Blog on 2040Parts

Jaguar & Land Rover to share more platforms. But you already knew that.

As Jaguar and Land Rover expand their model range and move to aluminium construction, they plan to share more platforms. Jaguar has been using an aluminium platform for the XJ for some time – long before the latest XJ came along. The aluminium platform the XJ uses is just the start for Jaguar Land Rover, as we reported back in 2009, and it seems that JLR are planning to use the move to aluminium underpinnings to cut their platforms to just two or three.

Paul McCartney’s Aston Martin DB5 sells for £307,000

An Aston Martin DB5 first owned by the Beatle’s Paul McCartney sold at RM Auctions last night for £307,000. But if there’s a UK ‘franchise’ that’s bigger even than Bond, it’s the Beatles. And Bond and the Beatles came together last night at R.M.

Ford Focus ST gets 330 Cosworth horses

Cosworth has prepared an extreme Ford Focus ST CS 330 for the 2012 SEMA Show with cosmetic tweaks and 330 hp. The Ford Focus ST finally went on sale in June, the closest thing we’ve got to a Focus RS, at least for now. But Cosworth has prepared their own Focus ST for this year’s SEMA show offering more power than the last generation Focus RS and almost as much as the run-our RS 500.

Mini Countryman updated – details of the 2013 facelift

Mini has given the Countryman baby SUV a mid-life facelift two years after launch. Key changes include a smarter interior, a range of new colours and cleaner engines. So what's new on the 2013 Mini Countryman?

Halloween: Best rides for trick-or-treaters

So, how do you think all those ghosts, goblins, witches and super heroes get to your neighborhood on Halloween night, anyway? Television and the big screen have used all sorts of contraptions that could fit into just about any Halloween theme. From Herman Munster's Munster Koach to the Batmobile to the rarely seen Super Car from Darrin Stevens' garage in "Bewitched," there have been plenty of scary-looking vehicles used in TV and movies that were hardly (in most cases) darlings of car showrooms.

Mopar offers high-performance parts for 2013 SRT Viper

Mopar is introducing a group of high-performance parts for the 2013 SRT Viper, which begins production next month. Braces, coil-overs, exhaust systems and more will be available when the first car rolls off the line. A performance cross car engine X-brace will cost $3,175.

Fisker Karma hybrids burn during superstorm Sandy

Fisker Automotive Inc. is looking into a report that 16 of its Karma plug-in hybrids caught fire at a New Jersey port after being submerged in seawater during Hurricane Sandy. "There were no injuries, and none of the cars were being charged at the time," the company said in a statement.

Formula Drift readies for 10th anniversary

Just two weeks after selling more tickets than ever at its 2012 season-ending event at Irwindale Speedway in Southern California, Formula Drift announced special 10th anniversary plans for the coming 2013 season. “It's crazy,” Formula Drift co-founder Jim Liaw said of the series' and sanctioning body's first 10 years. “It's kind of gone by in a blur.” That would be because it went by sideways.

Paris Motor Show 2012 – Trends and Overview

The 2012 Paris Mondial de l'Automobile will not be remembered as a classic. When the Big Book of the Paris Motor Show is published, 2012 may be consigned to no more than a side note as the show that marked what a dire situation the European car industry was once in. The most worrying aspect of the Paris show was the general lack of progression.

2013 MINI Countryman gets a tweak

Two years on from launch the MINI Countryman is getting a few tweaks for 2013 – but they don’t amount to much. But two years on from launch of the Countryman it’s getting a few tweaks to take in in to 2013, but they are pretty minor. The rings round the centre speedo and air vents now come in gloss black (unless you opt for the Chrome Line interior pack, and then they’re chrome.

Is the DfT trying to nobble 80mph speed limit trials?

With trials proposed for an 80mph speed limit, the ABD are asking if the DfT are trying to fix the trials by running them on congested motorways. When the ConDems came to power, and Philip Hammond was made Transport Secretary, we did hope that might be a sign that government policy on cars would finally make sense, especially when Philip Hammond declared ‘The war on motorists is over‘. Philip’s aim was to look at stuff like national speed limits and create a system that made sense, rather than the silly situation we have where everyone knows you won’t get nicked for 85mph on a motorway unless plod got out of bed the wrong side.

Hyundai heading for more dual clutch gearboxes instead of CVT

Hyundai are planning to offer more dual clutch gearboxes in their cars rather than going the CVT route. There’s an argument that somehow CVT gearboxes offer better fuel economy than an automated dual clutch ‘box, even though logic says otherwise. Toyota insist on using a CVT ‘box on their hybrid cars when they’d feel much better to drive with an auto or dual clutch ‘box.

Which sounds better? Jaguar F-Type V8 or V6?

Jaguar continues to keep interest in the new F-Type piqued with video comparing the sound of the V6 and V8 F-Type. The latest Jaguar marketing magic comes courtesy of a short video with a pair of F-Types pulling away and accelerating hard; one a V6 supercharged and the other a V8 supercharged. We don’t know whether the V6 is the 340PS base F-Type or the 380PS F-Type S, but it makes a fine noise.

News watch October 2012: today's industry news

Welcome to CAR Magazine's news aggregator as we round up the daily stories in the auto industry. Top tip: news summaries are added from the top hour-by-hou Wednesday 31 October 2012• It's emerged GM's European 2012 earnings are down nearly half a billion dollars in Europe, where it now expects to lose $1.5bn to $1.8bn before interest and taxes for the full year (DetNews)• Ford has posted a third-quarter net profit of $1.63bn (£101bn) - almost matching its eventual profit total for the entire year 2011. Despite painful losses in Europe (Ford expects to lose $1bn in Europe alone this year) a resurgent North American market has buoyed Fords sales even higher than previous forecasts (Automotive News Europe)• Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne has weighed in against Republican presedential nominee Mitt Romney, who argued that a move towards Chinese production would harm American jobs.

Volkswagen Santana

The Volkswagen Santana is a motoring icon in China. Visit Shanghai and the streets are clogged with scores of the sedans doing duty as taxis and official cars almost unaltered from the original 1980s design. Over 4 million have been sold in the last 29 years.

Lexus launches own Design Award contest

The first Lexus Design Award has been launched that gives the next generation of designers the chance of seeing their work showcased at next year's Milan Design Week. The theme of this global competition is ‘Motion', with Lexus looking for designs that respond to issues 
in daily life that relate to ‘Motion' as well as providing solutions. Two of the ten award winners will then develop prototypes with a renowned designer – either Sam Hecht or Junya Ishigami – acting as their mentor.

Video: Jaguar's Julian Thomson on the importance of design values

Jaguar's Head of Advanced Design, Julian Thomson, appeared at this month's PSFK Conference in London giving a talk on design values. Thomson's talk, ‘Concepting Dreams, Making Reality Happen', dealt with questions of creating a design story as well as how Jaguar uses the value of its heritage while keeping things original and new. Thomson – the man behind the 2010 C-X75 and the recently revealed F-Type – said, "You can't get a good design story if you don't look at your heritage, where you came from, where your values came from." He went on to discuss the ‘sad years of Jaguar', from around 1968 to 2004 where Jaguar was too timid to develop and "essentially made the same-looking car." He put this down to a reluctance on Jaguar's part to move too far away from its successful models and, quite interestingly, because "not only did we start doing market research, we started asking Americans what they wanted." Watch the full video on the left.

Video: Fiat creates café racer 500 for SEMA

Fiat is preparing a café racer-style 500 for this week's SEMA show by stripping down an Abarth version to take it "down to the essence of what you need to drive a car." The café racer philosophy of ‘more speed, less comfort' was born around the 1960s British 'biker scene and while initially focussed on increasing performance, quickly developed into a culture as concered with 'the show' as 'the go'. "It takes something like this to really get noticed at SEMA," says Craig Buoncompago, Project Manager at Fiat Product Design. "The Café Racer is really going to be one special car that you guys should really come and see." The 500's roof has been chopped, while also shorn of its door handles and being fitted with hot rod billet rims.

Aston Martin DBS Volante – up to £60k off as AM struggle to shift stock

The Aston Martin DBS Volante can now be had new for £60k off list as AML struggle to shift stock with the new Vanquish replacing the DBS. The first believes that Aston Martin has reinvented its range of cars with every update over the last decade – just as Porsche has with the 911. The other, perhaps the most prevalent, is that every Aston Martin we have now is a work of art, but basically the same car it was a decade ago.

Lexus GS gets Supercharged for SEMA 2012

A Lexus GS350 has been titivated and Supercharged by VIP Auto Salon ahead of a reeval at the 2012 SEMA Show. Last year – at the 2011 SEMA Show in Las Vegas – Lexus introduced us to the sporty side of the new GS with the debut of the GS F-Sport, a titivated GS with more aggressive looks and a more sporty character  But this year we’re getting something with a bit more oomph – a Lexus GS350 F-Sport with a nice meaty supercharger bolted on. We don’t actually get the GS350 in the UK – we have the choice of the GS250 with a 2.5 litre V6 or the GS450 V6 hybrid – but on the other side of the Pond they get the V6 we get in the 450h but without the hybrid gubbins, which offers 300 horses, and that’s the GS model VIP Auto Salon have given new life to.

Jaguar XF Sportbrake gets matching Jaguar Speedboat

Jaguar has revealed a Speedboat Concept at the first XF Sportbrake driving events to show how Jaguar design translates in other products. Before you get too excited, the Jaguar Speedboat isn’t a new item on the XF Sportbrake’s option list, but an exercise in translating Jaguar’s design philosophy in to an alternative product; one that fits seamlessly with Jaguar’s ‘Lifestyle’ pitch for the XF Sportbrake. Jaguar’s design guru, Ian Callum, said: We recognise that both our existing and future customers enjoy diverse and active lifestyles.

Jaguar F-Type UK public debut

Jaguar are giving the new F-Type its first UK public outing at the Lord Mayor’s Show in November - driven by Jessica Ennis. But that’s about to change as Jaguar has decided to debut their new sports car at this year’s Lord Mayor’s Show in London on 10th November. But just to make sure there’s an added bit of kudos for the new F-Type as it drives along London’s City Streets, Jaguar has roped in Olympic golden girl Jessica Ennis to cast a bit of the residual fairy dust from this year’s summer of sport with a photocall before the show and Jess behind the wheel as the Lord Mayor’s procession takes to the streets.

2013 Rolls Royce Ghost updates

Three years on from the launch of a Rolls Royce for owner drivers – the RR Ghost – Rolls Royce has made some updates for 2013. Believe it or not, it’s three years since the Rolls Royce Ghost arrived at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show as a more ‘Sporty’ take on the RR ethos and aimed at owner-drivers; the sort of chap who’s outgrown big Mercedes and BMW but still likes to drive. Three years on from launch, we’re still waiting for RR to deliver a Ghost Coupe (perhaps the Corniche?) and a Ghost DHC, so when we saw an email from Rolls Royce with 2013 updates we got quite excited.

Lexus brings modified GS, LS concepts to SEMA 2012

Lexus has pulled the wraps off two modified concept cars at the 2012 SEMA show. The custom GS and LS saloons are part of a six-car exhibition at the Las Vegas-based event, marking six years of Lexus attendance at SEMA. What's new on the Lexus LS show car?

Jaguar Concept Speedboat (2012) first official pictures

Premium estates are, we're told by the marketing people, for those with outdoorsy, active lifestyles. It's small wonder so few estates are truly utilitarian load-luggers: they're Tourers or Avants, or in this case, the new Jaguar XF Sportbrake. To tie in with the car's international launch, Jaguar gave it an active outdoor accessory of its very own: an Ian Callum-designed speedboat.

BMW 7-series models hit by recall

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued a recall of 45,500 BMW 7-series sedans in the 2005-2008 model year range. The recall, which has its origins in a NHTSA investigation initiated in August 2011, addresses a software malfunction that may cause vehicles to roll away when parked. A glitch in the BMW Comfort Access keyless-entry and ignition system is responsible for the problem.

Decision time at the dawn of the automated car

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers sent out a press release earlier this month in which they claim that by 2040 75% of the vehicles on the road will be autonomous. As much as I love driving, I have to admit that I won't bemoan the death of the traffic jam. I'll happily give up the crowded freeways and city streets if it means cheaper gas and abandoned back roads.

Want a 28% return on investment? Buy a Classic Ferrari.

The Wall Street Journal declares a classic Ferrari as a sound investment with returns in the last year averaging 28% on important models. It seems, especially if you’re a petrolhead, you can have your cake and eat it by investing in classic cars, and particularly in classic Ferraris, and not just see your investment on a balance sheet but in your garage too. The Wall Street Journal has been looking at ‘Treasure ASsets’ like fine wines, works of art and classic cars.

Alfa Romeo 4C finally on sale in 2013?

It seems the Alfa Romeo 4C may finally arrive in production guise at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, and on sale soon after. First seen at the Geneva Motor Show in 2011 – when we expected it to go on sale in 2012 – the 4C has been rolled out by Alfa Romeo a few times since – even complete with ‘teasers’ when all that had changed was the colour – to keep up interest in a car that holds much promise but didn’t seem to be heading anywhere. But now, according to Autocar, Alfa Romeo has confirmed that a production version of the Alfa 4C will arrive at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show before going on sale – at least in Europe – later in the year.

Toyota Ha:Mo – Future City Transport?

Toyota is trialling their vision of future city transport in Toyota City with Ha:Mo using COMS single seat electric cars. With our cities getting ever more congested and pollution a big concern (the NOX and particulates), car makers and local governments are seeking ways to make getting around in a city kinder to the air. London has the ‘Boris Bikes’, but Toyota City – home of Toyota’s biggest factory – is trialling one of Toyota’s visions of future individual transport for our cities – Ha:Mo.