Blog on 2040Parts

Fiat 500 Street – yet another 500 Special Edition

Fiat has revealed another special edition 500 – the Fiat 500 Street – with extra equipment and a sporty look. It must be all of a week since we’ve had a limited edition Fiat 500, so it was long overdue. Determined to produce as many limited edition 500s as they possibly can to get punters through showrooms, Fiat has added the Fiat 500 Street to its current lineup in a bid for a few more hard-earned Pounds heading their way.

McLaren 12C Spider gets public debut at Pebble Beach

McLaren has given the convertible MP4-12C – the McLaren 12C Spider – its first public outing at Pebble Beach. It’s a month since we had the reveal of the McLaren 12C Spider – the very appealing trick roof version of the MP4-12C – but we hadn’t actually seen it in the flesh. At least not until this weekend when McLaren gave the 12C Spider a public outing at Pebble Beach.

Mercedes CLS Shooting Brake priced from £49,360

Mercedes-Benz has announced that the CLS Estate – the Mercedes CLS Shooting Brake – will cost from £49,360 CLS 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY. The new Mercedes CLS Shooting Brake got its official reveal back in April (although we had to wait until July for the CLS 63 AMG Shooting Brake) , Mercedes has only now got round to revealing that the CLS Estate will cost from £49,360 for the CLS 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY Shooting Brake. The CLS 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY has to make do with Becker MAP PILOT instead of the full fat COMAND multimedia system the 350 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY and CLS 63 AMG get, but all three CLS Shooting Brake models - CLS 250 CDI, CLS 350 CDI and the flagship CLS C63 AMG Shooting Brake – get DAB, leather, Parktronic, metallic paint and Bi-Xenons.

Bugatti Galibier could get 1400hp

The Bugatti Galibier – Bugatti’s four door saloon – is still on the way and could get as much as 1400hp. It’s three years since the Bugatti Galibier first arrived on the scene, since when we’ve had rumour and counter rumour about when, or indeed if, Bugatti’s four-door supercar saloon would go in to production. But the production of the Galibier has never really been in doubt, although it was never likely to happen until the Veyron was on its last knockings.

GM recalls 258,000 SUVs for fire hazard

General Motors is recalling a family of SUVs, including the Chevrolet TrailBlazer, GMC Envoy, Saab 9-7x, Buick Rainier and Isuzu Ascender, after reports of 28 fires caused by short circuits in the power windows and locks. The recalled SUVs are from model years 2006 and 2007. In total, GM estimates 258,000 vehicles will need repairs.

Hyundai Santa Fe replaces V6, adds turbo power for 2013

Hyundai launched the third generation of its Santa Fe SUV on Aug. 20. It will come in two sizes: a five-passenger model similar to the outgoing model and a longer-wheelbase, seven-passenger vehicle.

Monterey auctions set sales records

Monterey 2012 entered the record books not only besting all previous sales totals, but also producing some astonishing individual sales results. Although final numbers are not in, the folks at Hagerty Insurance had observers at each auction who kept a running total while every car crossed the block. Expect the total numbers to go up as postblock deals were being put together by each auction house.

1928 Mercedes 680S wins Best of Show at Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance

A 1928 Mercedes-Benz 680S Saoutchik Torpedo finished in German Chassis gray has taken top honors at the 2012 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. The car is owned by Paul Andrews of Fort Worth, Texas, and was restored by Paul Russell and Co. Andrews acquired the car in 2010 with the assistance of Gooding and Co.

Bugatti unveils customized Grand Sport Vitesse on Pebble Beach weekend

Bugatti unveiled a special version of its Grand Sport Vitesse at the The Quail on Friday. The drop-top is meant to pay homage to the Type 37A, built in 1928. The original Type 37A won multiple Grands Prix and is now owned by Jay Leno.

Car collector and artist makes you look twice

As with most artists, Louis Carvell simply sees the world differently than others, and his passion for cars and car collecting led him to create a thought-provoking (and clever) body of work he entitled: “Reincarnations: Car Parts ReBorn.” The photographic collages are of spare vintage-automobile parts inspired by, “the dream cars of the Eisenhower era,” Carvell said. “These pieces are art in and of itself. Initially, I photographed them [alone] against white, seamless.” Eventually, Carvell decided to expand and refine his concept and place the parts into surrealist tableaux, to give one pause to consider these objects outside their defined roles.

Toyota Auris

The new Toyota Auris C-segment hatchback at next month's Paris motor show. The company will be hoping it continues it recent upturn in design terms. The new family Toyota grille – first seen on the Yaris – adds sharpness to the nose an feeds through into the lamps and LED daytime running lights.

Webinars: Autodesk – What is new in Alias v2013?

The first of a four Webinar series was entitled ‘What is new in Alias v2013?' and showcased the capabilities of the company's latest software edition. Tech specialist EMEA Nils Kremser of Autodesk presented the 30-minute Webinar before a 15 minutes question and answer session. The first subject in the Webinar was ‘User Interface, User Adoption' before Nils explained ‘Import & Export .edf (Icem Surf)'.

BMW Zagato Roadster

BMW and Zagato turned heads at the 2012 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance with its latest collaboration: The BMW Zagato roadster, just months after the unveil of the unveil of their coupé at Villa d'Este. The car, developed in just six months, features a low-set kidney grille – complete with tiny matt-sheen Zagato 'Z' letters – and circular headlamps on a sharply lined contoured hood, while Zagato's signature double-bubble design is seen again on the car and serves to extend the lines of the hood to the rear. Like the coupé version it is again the work of Norihiko Harada, Zagato's Chief Designer.

Is the McLaren X-1 actually the new McLaren F1 under the skin?

It’s starting to look as if the McLaren X-1 – revealed at Pebble Beach – could actually be the new McLaren F1 under the skin. We knew that McLaren were heading to Pebble Beach with a new car, and we thought it was going to be the new F1. In the end it turned out to be the McLaren X-1, but could the X-1 actually be the new F1 under the skin?

2013 Toyota Auris revealed ahead of Paris Motor Show debut

The new Toyota Auris – based on the old Auris but with a new look – has been revealed ahead of a Paris Motor Show debut. Even though there were rumours that the replacement for the Toyota Auris would arrive with the 2013 Toyota Corolla badge, Toyota has decided to stick with the Auris badge for the 2013 car, revealed today ahead of Paris 2012 (although we did have a leak of the 2013 Auris a few months ago). With competition from the VW Golf and Ford Focus – and a new-found desire to deliver cars that are more interesting to look at and drive – Toyota needs to be on the mark with the new Auris, and certainly in terms of how it looks the new Auris is a lot more interesting than the bland current model.

BMW X3 sDrive18d: First RWD X3 launches

BMW has launched the BMW X3 sDrive18d, the first rear wheel drive X3 and the new entry point in to the X3 range. If Land Rover can offer a 2WD Evoque, then there’s no reason why BMW shouldn’t offer a 2WD X3. So we get the BMW X3 sDrive18d as the new entry-level X3 and the first rear wheel drive X3.

Nissan Juke Ministry of Sound Limited Edition launched

A Limited Edition Nissan Juke – the Juke Ministry of Sound – has been launched. Just 250 will be built. The funky little Urban Warrior that is the Nissan Juke has a new model in its range – the Nissan Juke Ministry of Sound.

Bentley Mulsanne Convertible floated

Bentley are planning to take the top off the Mulsanne to create a new range-topping drop-top – the Bentley Mulsanne Convertible. Ever since the Bentley Arnage bit the dust, to be replaced by the Mulsanne, Bentley has been without a convertible at the top of its range. But that looks set to change if enough potential buyers say ‘yes, please’ to the idea of a Bentley Mulsanne Convertible, which is why Bently has revealed the sketches above (and below) of a possible Mulsanne Convertible.

Toyota Auris (2012) first official pictures

Toyota will showcase the new Auris family hatchback at the 2012 Paris motor show from 27 September. Toyota claim the new car is lighter, more economical and altogether more distinctive than the somewhat forgettable first-gen Auris, but will their efforts be enough to tempt non-geriatrics away from their Astras, Focuses and Golfs? Read on for all the Toyota Auris details.

Bentley Mulsanne Convertible (2012) first sketches

Bentley has dropped a strong hint that an open-top Mulsanne model is on the way. Almost three years to the day since the original Mulsanne limo made its debut at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, Crewe has released sketches of a soft-top Mulsanne, touted by Bentley as 'the ultimate in contemporary design, prestige and exclusivity'. Is the Bentley Mulsanne Convertible Concept just a new Azure?

Bentley Mulsanne convertible concept debuts

Bentley will expand the Mulsanne lineup with a glitzy convertible version, previewed by a concept that debuted at Pebble Beach. The British droptop would likely share mechanical pieces with the coupe, meaning a twin-turbo 6.75-liter V8 making 505 hp and 752 lb-ft of torque paired with an eight-speed automatic and rear-wheel chassis. Technical specifications were not confirmed.

Money flows at Monterey Auctions

Buyers of classic vehicles have dug deep into their pockets at auctions on the Monterey Peninsula, easily topping the sales totals from last year with one auction still remaining. More than $203 million has been spent on 704 vehicles, for an average sale price of $288,360. In 2011, the auction houses set a record for total sales during Pebble Beach week at $197,732,538 having been spent on 881 vehicles for an average sale price of $224,441.

2013 Kia Sorento engine lineup revealed

Kia has revealed that the 2013 Sorento – which will debut at the Paris Motor Show next month – will get a choice of two diesel and one petrol engines. We’ve had two reveals of the 2013 Kia Sorento so far this year, the first for the 2013 US Sorento and the second for the 2013 Europe and UK Sorento, but no details on the engine lineup. But now, ahead of a debut at next month’s Paris Motor Show, the engine lineup for the 2013 Kia Sorento in Europe has been revealed.

Range Rover Evoque RS250 Dark Tungsten by Kahn heading for Carfest

Another take on the Range Rover Evoque by Kahn Design – the RS 250 Dark Tungsten – is heading for Chris Evans’ Carfest South. Kahn Design revealed their take on the Range Rover Evoque – the RS250 Vesuvius Copper – last month, but they’ve decided another take on the same theme is needed to showcase at Chris Evans’ petrolhead extravaganza – Carfest South. So this time we get an Evoque with a more appealing  Dark Tungsten Metallic paint job with ‘KAHN’ lettering on the bonnet, new bumpers with mesh inserts, lower boot spoiler, chin spoiler, matt black highlights, gloss black boot trim, p[rivacy glass, big upper rear wing, diffuser and a nice set of 22" RS600 alloys.

Fisker Karma recalled over fire risk

The Fisker Karma range-extender EV is being recalled over a fire risk from a faulty cooling fan. We’re not sure how many Fisker Karmas there are in the UK (well, there should be at least one), but so far it appears that there are a surprising 1,900 in the wild. Now those 1,900 (or 2,400 if you count all the Karamas built and heading for customers) are to be recalled after fire destroyed two Karmas in the US.

Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse Special Edition hits Monterey

The Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse Special Edition is just another ‘Special Edition’ Veyron, this time for Pebble Beach. However special the Bugatti Veyron is, it’s hard to get excited when the press release drops in the inbox with the heading ‘Special Edition Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse debuts at The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering’. Because you just know it won’t be special.

Fiat 500 Turbo arrives for the US

The Fiat 500 Turbo has made its debut at Concorso Italiano in Monterey, California, effectively a US version of the Abarth 500. Last month we had a spot of the Fiat 500 Turbo in a commercial Fiat had shot for the 500 range, and it’s made its official debut this weekend at the Concorso Italiano in Monterey, California. The Fiat 500 T is really what we think of as the Abarth 500, a pimped 500 with 135bhp and some aggressive body changes, designed to sit below the Fiat 500 Abarth in the States.

BMW to offer rear-wheel drive X3 SUV

Most BMW X3s spend a negligible amount of time off road - apart from crunching across Middle England's gravel driveways - so BMW has seen fit to release a version that ditches the all-paw capacity and reverts to classic rear-wheel drive. While it's still going to be some way from a classic rear-drive Ultimate Driving Machine, the X3 sDrive18d is the cheapest and most economical way into X3 ownership. You'll be able to get your hands on one from £28,580 when it arrives in the UK in the autumn of 2012.

Ford GT Sells For a Record $11 million at RM's Monterey Auction

RM Auctions sold a 1968 Ford GT40 Gulf/Mirage coupe Friday night at its Monterey sale for $11 million, setting a record for the highest price paid for an American car at auction. The Friday sales showed once again a very strong market for cars selling at auction, according to statistics gathered by classic car insurance giant Hagerty. In comparing this year's sales to last year, the total number of cars sold in two days of auctions was down slightly while the total amount generated -- $67.5 million – is far greater, as is the average selling price.

Ford Shelby GT500 Cobra with 850hp pays tribute to Carroll Shelby

‘Friends of Carroll Shelby’ pay tribute to the man with an 850hp Ford Shelby GT500 Cobra, finished in Guardsman Blue/Wimbledon White stripe paint. Carroll Shelby – an man who understood performance cars perhaps better than any other American – died in May of this year, aged 89, after a life lived to the full. As a fitting tribute to the man who gave Ford the sort of performance cars they could never have dreamt of building, a very special Ford Shelby GT500 Cobra has been built to remember him by ‘The Friends of Carroll Shelby’.