Blog on 2040Parts

New Skoda Octavia vRS hatch & estate revealed

The 2013 Skoda Octavia vRS has been revealed (vRS hatch pictured) The Skoda Octavia vRS – the latest version of Skoda’s quick and appealing take on the VW Golf GTI – has been unveiled ahead of its debut at the Goodwood FoS in July, and it looks a cracker. Available as either a hatchback or estate – and as a diesel or a petrol – the Octavia vRS manages to repackage the Golf GTI and Golf GTD in to one Skoda, offering good performance (the vRS is a bit slower than the GTI to 62mph at 6.8 seconds but has a 2mph higher top speed), good looks and the promise of prices starting not much above £20k. The petrol vRS gets the Golf GTI’s 217bhp 2.0 litre TSI and the diesel vRS the 181bhp 2.0 litre TFI from the Golf GTD, both with a 6-speed manual gearbox as standard and a six-speed DSG as option, sports suspension, XDS differential, quicker steering and multi-link rear suspension.

Sergio bows at Pininfarina Tribute Rally

Pininfarina showed its Sergio barchetta concept at an event in the UK last week where the main aim was to set a record for the largest number of Pininfarina cars gathered in a single location. As Autoweek went to press, the total was nudging towards 200, an early audit of the delectable selection of machinery arranged on the lawns around Hurtwood Park Polo Club suggesting at least 180 cars with more still to report. “We're hoping to get over the magic 200, but will have to wait and see,” said Gary John on behalf of the organizers, Brokersclub.

GM makes select OnStar services free

General Motors said on Wednesday that it will make unlocking doors, activating horn and lights, and remote start on equipped vehicles standard with its OnStar RemoteLink Mobile App for 2014 vehicles, even if owners decline to pay for other OnStar services. More than 36 Buicks, Cadillacs, GMC and Chevy models are compatible with the app. GM says it gets more than 60,000 requests from forgetful drivers each month, asking for door-unlock assistance, “so it makes sense for us to offer RemoteLink key-fob services to enable customers to lock, unlock or start their vehicle from anywhere they have a wireless or cellular connection,” said Mary Chan, president GM global connected-consumer business unit.

Skoda Octavia vRS (2013) first official pictures

The Skoda Octavia vRS is back, faster and yet more fuel-efficient than ever. Available in booted hatchback or estate 'Combi' bodystyles, the hot Octavia has sports suspension, an electronic locking differential and as before, a choice of petrol or diesel engines. They're more powerful this time round though...

More than 1,000 Porsche 911 to celebrate 50th anniversary at 2013 Silverstone Classic

Classic Porsche 911s will be at the Silverstone Classic Anniversary Parde Ferrari managed a record parade of 964 Ferraris at Ferrari’s 2012 Racing Days at Silverstone last year and now, with 2013 being the 50th anniversary of the launch of the Porsche 911, Silverstone are planning a parade of over 1,000 911s at this year’s Silverstone Classic. Mind you, with over 800,000 Porsche 911s produced since the first 911 arrived in 1963, it will have been a lot easier to find 911s than it was Ferraris. In fact, it’s been so easy the applications to take part by 911 owners has been oversubscribed.

$2.9 million Pagani Zonda Revolucion introduced

Supercar maker Pagani introduced the Zonda Revolucion at its yearly international Pagani meet up. The Revolucion will be the last version -- for now -- of the Zonda. The company also said the R would be the last version, and then said the same thing about the Tricolore.

One Lap of the Web: Model S carbon footprints, 911 road trips and the Rover 3500

We spend a lot of time on the Internet -- pretty much whenever we're not driving, writing about or working on cars. Since there's more out there than we'd ever be able to cover, here's our daily digest of car stuff on the Web you may not otherwise have heard about. -- It's Tesla Model S owner vs.

Show Review: Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este 2013

Firmly among the top three classic car events in the world – arguably alongside UK's Goodwood Festival of Speed and USA's Pebble Beach – Italy's Villa d'Este is perhaps the most design-led of the three and took place again on the beautiful shores of Lake Como last weekend (24-26 May). Less is more at Villa d'Este, with only 49 classics up for the coveted ‘Best of show' prize and another seven modern concepts vying for a separate award. It's all about quality not quantity.

EV advocate uninvited from Obama luncheon

Mr. Smith didn't make it to Washington. He didn't even make it to West Los Angeles.

Porsche reveals 911 50th Anniversary Edition

The year 1963 was the first for the Porsche 911. To celebrate 50 years, the German automaker has announced that it will build a limited run of air-cooled 911 classic replicas. Just kidding.

Porsche 911 50 Years Edition celebrates the 911′s half century

The Porsche 911 50 Years Edition (pictured) celebrates half a century of the 911 If you’d guessed how much the Porsche 911 would change in the coming years when it was first launched in 1963, there’s a pretty strong chance you’d have decided the shape would change out of all recognition and the engine would move from the back to the front. But you’d have been wrong. The Porsche 911, perhaps more than any other car ever made, has evolved over its 50 years of life instead of being replaced by a new and ‘better’ car.

Pagani Zonda Revolucion is the last ever Zonda. Apparently.

The Pagani Zonda Revolucion – the ultimate Zonda We’ve lost count of the number of ‘Special Edition’ Zondas Pagani has churned out over the years, but it’s probably close to the point where a non-special Zonda is rarer than the special editions. Now we get treated to one last special edition Zonda with the Pagani Zonda Evolucion, an evolution of the track-only Zonda R promising even more extremes of performance and price. The Evolucion’s 6.0 litre V12 engine produces a massive 789bhp which, thanks to a weight of only 1070kg, promises to be unbelievably quick with a power to weight ration of 749bhp per ton – better than the Veyron.

First Hyundai ix35 FCEV Hydrogen-powered cars delivered

The first production, hydrogen-powered Hyundai ix35 arrives in Copenhagen Hyundai has been threatening to deliver the first production hydrogen-powered ix35s in Europe for a while, and now its finally happened. Fifteen 1×35 FCEVs have been delivered to the City of Copenhagen during the opening ceremony for the first hydrogen refuelling station in Denmark and will be used by the City of Copenhagen as part of their municipal fleet, and demonstrate in the process that FCEVs are a practical proposition. Hyundai has been deploying prototypes of the ix35 FCEv across Europe for the last couple of years as it works to raise awareness of the technology and drive the impetus for a pan-European hydrogen refuelling network, with EU policy makers having access to the ix35 FCEV and 100 European businesses getting a chance to play at a recent event in Berlin.

New Nissan Micra Facelift: Official

The facelift for the Nissan Micra aims to up quality We got a preview of the facelift for the 2013/2014 Nissan Micra back in March when the New Nissan March arrived in Thailand, but we now we get the official reveal on the Micra facelift for the UK and Europe. And it was needed. Nissan’s decision to move production of the Micra from the UK to India and Thailand has led to a big drop in perceived quality resulting in poor sales in Europe and a big need for Nissan to up the quality and equipment offered by the Micra.

Electric car lease deals are better than ever

This may be the beginning of a golden age of affordable electric cars: There are now or will soon be three electric cars available in California leasing at $199 a month, one for $249 and one for $259 a month. They are all perfectly wonderful subcompact four and five-seaters, any one of which could fit nicely into your urban or suburban lifestyle. Where else are you going to find a car for $199 a month?

Porsche 911 50 Years Edition (2013) at Frankfurt motor show

Here’s the inevitable special edition 911 to celebrate Porsche’s rear-engined icon’s half-century. The 911 50 Years Edition uses the Carrera 4’s 44mm-wider-than-standard body, rear-wheel drive and the Carrera S’s 395bhp 3.8-litre flat-six engine in either seven-speed manual or PDK form. In a nod to the 911’s birth year, only 1963 examples will be produced, each costing a cool £92,587 – a £10k premium over the Carrera S.

Pagani Zonda Revolucion (2013) first pictures of ultimate 790bhp Zonda

Is the new Pagani Zonda Revolucion the Nurburgring lap-record holder in waiting? The Zonda Revolucion (Revolution in Spanish) is a fettled version of the track-only Zonda R, boasting more power and F1-derived brake and aerodynamic know-how. It should easily be able to eclipse the Zonda R's record-breaking 6min 47sec Nürburgring lap time, but you’ll need fast money, too. Available to order now, the five Revolucions being produced will set you back an eye-watering €2.2m (£1.8m) each – plus taxes – and you still can't drive it on the road… For £1.8million, the Pagani Zonda Revolucion had better be packing some serious punch… Worry not: the mid-mounted 6.0-litre AMG V12 (normally aspirated still, rather than twin-turbocharged like the new Pagani Huayra in CAR's video review below) develops 789bhp – a 50bhp increase on the 2009 Zonda R's output.

Honda's future plans cut Acura TSX platform

The future of Acura's TSX appears uncertain as Honda Motor prepares to abandon the platform used for the compact sedan. Acura boss Jeff Conrad says the TSX will remain in the lineup "for the foreseeable future." But when Acura moved into the entry-luxury segment with the ILX last year it jammed up its sedan lineup -- both in terms of vehicle sizes and pricing ladders. The ILX and aging TSX are positioned close to each other, as are the TSX and mid-sized TL.

Detroit Electric delays SP:01 EV

Detroit Electric will delay the SP:01 EV roadster for at least a month, according to a company executive who talked to the Detroit News. The company still hasn’t finalized a manufacturing location in Wayne County. Production was scheduled to start in August, now it’s slated for September.

Ford recalls more than 465,000 vehicles

Ford Motor Co. said it is recalling more than 465,000 vehicles in several popular models -- including the 2013 Ford Fusion sedan -- after discovering problems with fuel-delivery modules, engine-block heaters and missing steering-gear parts. A Ford spokeswoman said today that three different recalls for several of its best-selling cars were sent to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration last week.

One Lap of the Web: Catch Dodge Fever, Zagato and Joe Isuzu: a retrospective

We spend a lot of time on the Internet -- pretty much whenever we're not driving, writing about or working on cars. Since there's more out there than we'd ever be able to cover, here's our daily digest of car stuff on the Web you may not otherwise have heard about. -- Robert Tate takes a look at the Dodge “Fever” campaign at motorcities.org and gives us a bit of background on the “Fever Girl” Joan Parker.

2015 Cadillac ATS-V spied chasing BMW M3

The Cadillac ATS was conceived as a BMW 3-series fighter, so it stands to reason that a hotter version of the rear-wheel drive sedan -- a Cadillac ATS-V -- would be called forth to challenge the mighty M3. New spy photos seem to show just that. Of course, this could be a case of a privately owned BMW M3 being in the right place at the right time, catching up with what appears to be a heavily camouflaged Cadillac ATS-V on the road somewhere outside metropolitan Detroit.

Hamann reveals BMW X6 M-based Tycoon II M

If the current BMW X6 M is too subtle for you, then German tuner Hamann has just what you're looking for with its new Tycoon II M. Starting on the outside, the tuners gave it an aggressive widebody kit with integrated LED daytime running lights. The car is also lowered by 1.5 inches.

Poll: Spouses rank as worst backseat drivers

Spouses beat out mothers and children as the worst backseat drivers, according to 500 drivers recently polled by Insurance.com. For men, 40 percent said their wives were worst, followed by friends at 17 percent and mothers at 15 percent. Thirty-four percent of the women ranked their husbands worst, 18 percent said their mothers and 15 percent said their friends.

Ram, large SUVs boost Chrysler's May sales 11 percent

Rising demand for Ram pickups, large SUVs and cars helped Chrysler Group's sales increase 11 percent in May. The company's car sales rose 16 percent while light truck deliveries advanced 9 percent, Chrysler said Monday. It marked the 38th consecutive month that the automaker's U.S.

Brabus takes on Mercedes GL63 with Widestar kit

Brabus added the Mercedes GL63 AMG to its Widestar lineup on Monday. In addition to the wild body kit, Brabus adds 70 hp to the mix and a handful of twist at the wheels to create the B63-620 Widestar. The visual upgrades begin with the fender flares that add 3 inches to the width of the already-big SUV.

Lexus LFA says goodbye on video

The Lexus LFA says goodbye in a tribute video The very last Lexus LFA was produced in December 2012, and the last LFA destined for Europe in March 2013, so now, with the LFA consigned to the annuls of Toyota’s car history, Lexus has decided they should pay tribute to their very special supercar. It took a decade to get the LFA from initial concept to production, and much changed in that time. But the end result was worth the wait, even if the price tag – north of £300k – made the LFA a car only for the properly wealthy petrolheads.

Nissan Micra facelift (2013) first official pictures

Nissan’s tried to inject some of the styling fizz of the Juke into the Micra supermini, with a package of visual tweaks for 2013. The cabin’s had a nip and tuck too, and Nissan has confirmed prices won’t rise sharply versus the current £9800-14,000 range. What’s new for the latest Nissan Micra?

Alfa Romeo 4C UK debut at 2013 Goodwood Festival of Speed

The launch Edition of the Alfa Romeo 4C (pictured) will be in action at the 2013 Goodwood Festival of Speed. We had the launch – finally – of the production version of the Alfa Romeo 4C at the Geneva Motor Show in March, and now visitors to the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July will get the chance to see the 4C in action as it makes its UK ‘Dynamic’ debut. Weighing in at under 1000kg, the 4C is a hugely promising sports car from Alfa, which seems to offer all you want from an Alfa including decent performance from the 1750cc four cylinder turbo from the Giulietta Quadrifoglio Verde, which promises 0-62mph in around 4.5 seconds Alfa are actually bringing the Launch Edition of the 4C to Goodwood for visitors to lust over, which gets extra tweaks including a carbon fibre body kit.

MINI Countryman Cooper & Paceman Cooper get ALL4 4WD

The MINI Countryman Cooper (pictured) & Paceman Cooper get ALL4 4WD We always find it astonishing that car makers ‘ration’ the availability of four wheel drive platforms in their cars, usually citing a ‘lack of demand’. But that lack of demand is usually predicated on the lack of supply, and increasing the supply of 4WD cars would see more sold, especially after a series of harsh winters where many motorists struggled to keep their cars in a straight line. So the decision by BMW to extend the availability of their ALL4 4WD setup to a wider range of MINIs is welcome, with the petrol Countryman Cooper and Paceman Cooper now getting the ALL4 option too.