Blog on 2040Parts

Tesla repays government loans – a first, say Tesla. Chrysler disagree.

2013 is turning in to a very good year for Tesla. The Tesla Model S has had more praise heaped on it than almost any car ever has, they are making an operating profit and their shares are going through the roof. So with the stars aligning for Tesla they’ve taken the opportunity to pay back $465 million of US Department of Energy loans, nine years early.

Lexus IS Coupe arriving in 2014 & IS F V8 on the way

Now it looks like Lexus is going to bring the LF-CC to production life in 2014 as the Lexus IS Coupe (although there are rumours it could be the RC, but that may be for a production version of the even more appealing LF-LC as a range-topping Lexus Coupe) and equip it with the same petrol engine and hybrid options as the IS saloon. What is also in prospect is a return of the IS F – complete with sizeable V8 power – which, if it does arrive, will see the IS Coupe coming with the F engine option and making a very promising foray in to the powerful V8 Coupe market. What doesn’t seem likely is that Lexus are going to bother with a diesel option for the IS or Coupe, despite conventional wisdom saying they need a diesel option to compete in Europe because - as they’ve already demonstrated with the IS 300h – they can deliver an appealing and competitive hybrid with decent performance and price, and bring it in with under 100g/km emissions – perfect for the business market.

Ford to cut Australian manufacturing in 2016

Ford Motor Co., saddled with high costs, falling sales and financial losses, will close Australian car and engine assembly plants in October 2016 after almost nine decades of manufacturing in the country. Ford, the smallest of the country's three manufacturers after Toyota Motor Corp. and General Motors, will shut its assembly plant in Broadmeadows in northern Melbourne and an engine plant in Geelong to the west of the city, Ford Australia CEO Bob Graziano said.

Tesla pays off its government loans

Tesla paid off the last of its $465 million government loans May 22, nine years ahead of schedule, thus outperforming most U.S. college graduates and the vast majority of American homeowners. Tesla used funds from a stock offering to finish the loan with a whopping bank transfer of $451.8 million Wednesday, pointing out that it was “…the only American car company to have fully repaid the government.” Apparently no one at Tesla was even born when Lee Iacocca paid off Chrysler's $1.2-billion government bailout ahead of schedule back in 1983.

2014 Chevy Spark EV priced at $27,500

The 2014 Chevrolet Spark EV will have a $27,495 price tag when it goes on sale in California and Oregon next month, making it one of the best value options among all-electric vehicles. The full $7,500 federal tax credit brings the Spark EV cost to $19,995. California Spark EV owners may also qualify for up to $2,500 in state and local tax credits, and they’re eligible for the state's carpool lane.

2013 Mercedes E-Class Coupe & Cabriolet: Price and Specification

The facelift has meant a revised model lineup across the E Class range with just two trim levels, with the entry-level model getting SE trim – but only for the E 220 CDI – and the AMG Sport available across all engine options - E 220 CDI, E 250 CDI and E 350 BlueTEC diesels and E200 petrol. Both trim levels come with COMAND, DAB, speed sensitive electric steering, partial LEDs, Active Park Assist, Attention Assist and Collision Prevention Assist, with the SE getting 17″ alloys, Sport grill, leather, heated front seats and aluminium trim. The E 220 CDI SE Coupe costs from £35,095 and the Cabriolet from £38,465.

Nissan slashes 370Z price and adds hot Nismo model for 2013

Nissan has given the 370Z a shot in the arm for its fourth year on sale, cutting the price of the entry-level model by £3,005, and adding a new range-topper: the upgraded 370Z Nismo. So just how cheap is a new 370Z now? You can get a base-spec coupe for £26,995, which comes with the facelifted front end (new bumper and LED running lights) plus new 18in alloys.

McLaren 50 12C & 12C Spider celebrate McLaren’s 50th anniversary

McLaren say they will be building a maximum of 50 each of the 50 12C Coupe and 12C Spider to mark the occasion, both of which get special features provided by McLaren Special Operations – the same McLaren division that created the 12C High Sport. That means a new front bumper which has been optimised by Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) for more downforce, extra carbon fibre and kevlar exterior bits, ceramic brakes, 19″ front and 20″ rear alloys, full leather, extra carbon fibre in the cabin, a heritage badge and a numbered plaque. There will be the option of three colours for the 50th anniversary 12Cs - Carbon Black, Supernova Silver and, of course, McLaren Orange – and each car will get its own silver car cover, a limited edition key in a carbon fibre box and a signed art print (sadly, there’s no sign of a tool chest or Tag Heuer watch).

SRT Motorsports Viper team ready for Le Mans return

SRT is heading back to France with two identically prepared Viper GTS-Rs for the 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 22-23. It will be the first time the marque has competed at the race since it won the GTS class three consecutive times, from 1998 to 2000. It will compete in the LM GTE Pro Class.

2014 BMW M5 takes on the past

The 2014 BMW M5 sedan hits the streets this August. Bimmer says four-door has been the standard for high-performance sedans since its release in 1985. We'd be inclined to agree.

Lotus takes the top off Exige S

Lotus is adding an Exige S Roadster to its lineup, based on the new Exige we saw at the Frankfurt auto show. Unfortunately the road-car version will not come to the United States. The Roaster is powered by the same 345-hp V6 as in the hardtop Exige, as well as in the bigger Evora.

Fisker has potential buyers in line

VL Automotive and Chinese Investment Group Wanxiang are looking to buy troubled automotive manufacturer Fisker. Maker of the curvaceous Karma, Fisker has been cash-strapped for some time now due to what company insiders called an overly optimistic business plan that anticipated rapid sales growth. Tesla's success in the luxury/upscale electric vehicle industry hasn't helped Fisker's cause either.

VW diesel cars to get misfueling protection mods

Volkswagen plans to refit more than a quarter million 2009-12 diesel cars to prevent North American customers from mistakenly pumping gasoline into the fuel tanks. The service action covers 209,500 cars in the United States and 51,600 in Canada. Affected models are the TDI versions of the 2009-12 Jetta, 2010-12 Golf and 2009-12 Jetta Sportwagen, called the Golf Wagon in Canada.

One Lap of the Web: Turning second-hand clothes into Ferraris, drumming on the highway and 'Fast & Furious 6'

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. -- The next time you run out of gas, just pull out a drum kit until help arrives.

Could the McLaren P13 get a Honda engine?

The McLaren P13 is due to arrive in 2015 and we’re expecting it to get a de-tuned version of the 3.8 litre V8 already found in the 12C (pictured above) and P1, and be priced to take on the almost empty sector (in terms of price) the Porsche 911 Turbo occupies - somewhere around £125k. It’s a sensible plan to fill a potentially lucrative sector of the supercar market with a mid-engined, rear wheel drive ‘baby’ supercar with performance of around 3.8 seconds to 60mph and stunning handling. It should give the 911 Turbo a run for its money.

Lotus Exige S Roadster Official: Price (£52,800) and Specs

It’s the first properly good news from Lotus for a while, and looks a promising offering at the same price (£52,800) as the tin top Exige S and, remarkably for a convertible, actually weighing less than the hard top – although by only 10kg. The Exige S Roadster gets the same 3.5 litre V6 as the coupe which means 345bhp, 295lb/ft of torque and a 0-60mph of a very respectable 3.8 seconds, but it does lose the coupe’s rear wing and front splitter for better airflow. The folding roof on the Roadster is a manual affair, but Lotus say fresh air motoring is just ‘Two clicks and a roll away’, so the manual roof is probably the best – and lightest – option.

New Land Rover Freelander will actually be a Discovery

It seems – as we expected – that Land Rover are looking to make more sense of their range of off-roaders as new models are launched, and are going to concentrate on three core brands – Range Rover, Discovery and Defender – instead of the current mish-mash where many models really overlap with others (the top end Discoverys are really a cheaper Range Rover). So the next Freelander will become an entry-level Discovery with underpinnings borrowed from the Evoque (which is itself based on the current Freelander platform, a development of the Ford Galaxy’s platform), and arrive in both 5-seat and 7-seat guise, with the new Discovery ’5′ getting a platform based on the new Range Rover and perhaps spawning two models. The new Discovery range will be targeted as a ‘Lifestyle’ core range for Land Rover (much as the original Disco was) and the Range Rover range will be both sporty and luxurious, with a 7-seat Grand Evoque XL joining the current Evoque, Range Rover Sport and Range Rover.

Maserati Levante SUV – 525bhp & Made in Italy

The Maserati Levante – the production version of the Kubang Concept SUV – is based on the new Jeep Grand Cherokee and it was planned to be built in the US alongside the Jeep, but demand for the new Grand Cherokee means Maserati will be building the Levante in Italy instead. Which will probably do its credentials no harm at all. Nor will its engine offerings, which will include the new 3.0 litre twin-turbo V6 from the Ghibli with around 400bhp, the new diesel engine from the Ghibli (and perhaps Fiat’s new V8 diesel when that arrives) and the thumping twin-turbo V8 from the Quattroporte with a round 525bhp.

Jaguar design through the eyes of art students

London's Clerkenwell Design Week runs from May 21-23, serving as the United Kingdom's leading independent design festival. Jaguar is the primary sponsor this year and for the event, it challenged students at the Royal College of Art to create a joint exterior and interior form study which “expresses their vision of future Jaguar design language in either a sports or luxury context.” Ewan Gallimore and Claire Miller won the contest with the F-type skeleton pictured, beating eight other teams. "We began the project by looking at light, specifically the way the light falls within the space at Clerkenwell," said Gallimore and Miller.

Lotus prices Exige S Roadster from £52,900

Lotus has announced its new Exige S Roadster will be priced from £52,900 – exactly the same as the hard-top Exige S. It’s also slightly lighter than the fixed-head Exige, and matches its blistering acceleration times.  That £52,900 tag makes the 345bhp Exige S Roadster £7500 pricier than a (pre-options list) Porsche Boxster S manual, though the 1328kg Porsche makes do with only 315bhp.

Toyota teases new Corolla. Yay.

Remember when Toyotas used to be weird? Sure, they've been doing some marginal experimentation lately, bringing us one half of the Febreze twins and making the Lexus GS a legit good driver's car. But oh, when will they cast the mantle of staid sturdiness fully into the wind?

One Lap of the Web: BMW M3 gets color-corrected, a gentleman's GT-R and the Porsche 959

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. -- Oh dear, BMW: Perhaps you shouldn't have made two M3 color selections sound so similar?

RCA students open Clerkenwell Week Design with Jaguar-inspired artwork

Two Royal College of Art students have designed a Jaguar-inspired sculpture to celebrate the opening of Clerkenwell Design Week in London. Ewan Gallimore and Claire Miller developed their idea alongside Jaguar's Advanced Design team in Whitley, Coventry, by using technologies applied in the creation of Jaguar production and concept cars. The two were the successful team from a selection of nine groups who submitted entries after Jaguar's challenge to the RCA's Vehicle Design and Textile Design departments.

Former Saab executives arrested in accounting-fraud probe

Three former Saab executives, including former CEO Jan-Aake Jonsson, were arrested Monday on suspicion of “grave attempts to complicate tax controls” during 2010 and 2011, according to a report from Bloomberg. The Swedish Economic Crime Authority's chief prosecutor, Olof Sahlgren, declined to give the names of the arrested, but Bloomberg confirmed in court documents that Jonsson, former chief financial officer Karl-Gustav Lindstroem and formal general counsel Kristina Geers were detained. “It's about accounting measures to complicate the control operations of the tax authority regarding the calculation of taxes and fees,” Sahlgren told Bloomberg.

2003-2013:10 Years of Tesla Motors

First, it left us stranded due to a stuck charger, and then it made us smile from ear to ear with its silent but deadly acceleration. Yes, it's safe to say we've had both good and bad experiences with Teslas here at Autoweek. In its 10 years of existence, the company has given us the zippy Roadster based on the Lotus Elise and the current Model S.

Forza Motorsport 5 announced for the Xbox One

Xbox fans who also dig racing rejoice: “Forza Motorsport 5” was confirmed today by Microsoft during their press release for its new console, the Xbox One. Developed by Turn 10 Studios, the game will be available later this year simultaneously with the console. While no official launch date was confirmed, we would not be surprised to see “Forza Motorsport 5” under Christmas trees come December.

2013 BMW M5 facelift & new M6 get Competition Package

The BMW M5 (left) & M6 with new Competition Packacge But the 2013 BMW M5 – and its coupe sister, the BMW M6 – will also be getting a Competition Package option for 2013, which is probably more interesting than the minor tweaks to the 2013 5 Series. The Competition Package adds more power to both the M5 and M6 – a whole 15bhp, taking it up to 567bhp – enough to improve the 0-62mph by 0.2s on both M5 and M6 as well as re-tuned dampers and springs – which lower ride height on the M5, but not the M6 – stiffer anti-roll bars, new M Diff and an improved Dynamic Mode which should allow you to play a bit more. On the cosmetic front, just like the 5 Series facelift, you’ll have to look quite hard to see what the Competition Package adds, but you do get a black finish on the tail pipes and a slightly different set of 20″ alloys.

2015 Land Rover Defender delayed – creating the absolute dog’s danglers will take longer

Recently, we reported  Land Rover’s design director Gerry McGovern saying of the 2015 Land Rover Defender  “This car will be the bollocks, I assure you. The absolute dog’s bollocks.” But it seems that creating the absolute dog’s danglers is going to take a bit longer than planned. Autocar are reporting that John Edwards – Land Rover’s Global Brand Director – has said the new Defender will not be going in to production in 2015 as planned, although Land Rover are planning to scrap the current Defender then as it will no longer meet emissions regulations.

Coventry Industrial Design students launch projects blog

The official blog for the 2013 Coventry University Industrial Design Degree Show has launched. Featuring project updates and imagery from this year's Industrial Design undergraduates, it allows Bachelor's students to promote their work ahead of the 2013 Degree Show and lets viewers follow the progress of their final projects and college work in real-time. A monthly archive also means viewers can look back over past submissions.

Megane Renaultsport Red Bull Racing RB8 celebrates Red Bull’s F1 constructors title

The Megane RB8 comes in a fetching shade of Twilight Blue – inspired by F1, you may like to know – with contrasting Platinum Grey on the door handles, mirrors, spoiler and front splitter for a bit of added interest. Oh, and there’s a monochrome ‘Laurel’ on the rear side windows too. The interior gets a makeover too with Red Bull Racing logos dotted wherever Renault could fit them, and you can even opt for Renault’s R-Link system which throws in SatNav, Music streaming, Apps and Bluetooth and makes it available through version 2.0 of the Renaultsport monitor with built in TomTom and a Red Bull Racing home page.