Blog on 2040Parts

MINI Paceman Coooper S hits the Nurburgring (video)

The next MINI to hit showrooms – the MINI Paceman – has been caught testing at the Nurburgring ahead of a Paris Motor Show. We did think that the MINI Paceman – which arrived at the Detroit Auto Show last year as a concept – would make it to market as a Countryman Coupe. But just last month MINI let it be known that they’re actually going with the funkier Paceman rather than the descriptive, though predictable, MINI Countryman Coupe for the production version of the Paceman which will debut in production guise at the Paris Motor Show in September.

Mercedes-Benz to use inflatable rear seatbelts on new car

Mercedes-Benz will begin equipping its cars with inflatable seatbelts for rear passengers, making it the second automaker to use the safety technology. Mercedes said the belt would be introduced on an upcoming luxury car. A likely candidate is the redesigned S-class sedan, which the German automaker is preparing to put into production next year.

Split Camaro showcases 'quality' for State Farm agents

From fastidiously original to trailer-park fantasy, State Farm Insurance has merged two ends of the car-repair spectrum in one 1968 Chevrolet Camaro convertible. Don't fret for the “destruction” of this car, as it was sourced from a totaled vehicle that ended its first life via an engine fire. The purpose of the build is to educate insurance adjusters on the various levels of quality in repairs, restorations or modifications that find themselves littered throughout the collector-car world.

Korea to build more Nissan Rogues for U.S. market

Nissan is turning to Korean automaker Samsung to take the heat off its North American production needs as it struggles to stay a step ahead of U.S. sales forecasts. Nissan is expanding its two big U.S.

Is this the new Hyundai ix35? Apparently not.

We have another photo of what seems to be a new Hyundai ix35 (or a facelift). But it’s not. Last week we had what we thought was a photo of a 2013 facelift for the Hyundai ix35, snapped in Korea and with what appeared to be a new Santa Fe-esque nose on the front.

Are JLR about to announce the new small Jaguar?

Jaguar has reached agreement with unions at Castle Bromwich to increase productivity and look set to announce a new Jaguar. Back in May we reported that Jaguar had failed to reach agreement with Unions at castle Bromwich over working practices aimed to increase production, but today agreement has been reached and we’re expecting an announcement shortly from JLR. We know that the new working practices – which involved compulsory Saturday shifts – were vital to Jaguar to get the new F-Type out of the door when it launches in 2013, but this morning both BBC and ITV are reporting that Jaguar are about to announce the production of two new models at Castle Bromwich.

Land Rover sending more Range Rover Evoques to the US

Land Rover are increasing the supply of the new Range Rover Evoque to the US by a third to help meet demand. In the land where cubic inches are king and any SUV smaller than a Hummer isn’t really an SUV, it’s amazing that the dinky Range Rover Evoque is a hit – but it is. From sales of just 2,200 Evoques in 2011, Land Rover has managed to shift twice that in the first six months of 2012, and Land Rover dealers are still complaining they can’t get enough Evoques to meet demand.

Lamborghini Aventador hits 1,000

The boys (and girls) in Bologna re celebrating the production of 1,000 Lamborghini Aventadors, just 15 months after production started. Italy has no money, and nor does most of Europe, but Supercars still sell even when they have a list price of £253,000 – and at a greater rate than ever before. That’s been brought sharply in to focus with the new that Lamborghini has delivered the 1,000th Aventador just 15 months after production started in Sant’ Agata – just half the time it took to sell the first 1,000 Murcielagos.

Stillen contest calls for production SEMA Scion FR-S bodykit designs

Tuning company Stillen has launched a competition to design a bodykit for the Scion FR-S to be put into production. As well as having their design made, the winner also win entry to the Specialty Equipment Marketing Association (SEMA) Show and be put up during the show for two days in Las Vegas, where the car will be displayed The contest calls for designers to submit renders of a lip/body kit consisting of a front lip spoiler, side rockers and rear valances by downloading the design templates from the contest website and submitting their own designs by email along with name and contact information. The Stillen design team will choose the top five designs three days after the submission deadline and upload them to its Facebook page, with the winner chosen by the public on Facebook after two weeks of voting.

Semi-autonomous driving system reduces accidents by 75% [w/video]

Scientists from MIT have developed a semi-autonomous driving system that is proven to reduce acccidents by 75 per cent. A front-mounted camera and laser range-finder identify the car's surroundings while making realtime updates to distances, mapping out the car's movement into 'safe zones'. The system also asseses the vehicle's limits, such as grip, and corrects the car.

Lamborghini LP 700-4 Aventador production passes 1,000

On July 19, Lamborghini built the 1,000th Aventador. It was delivered to buyer Hans Scheidecker, a German architect and multicar owner. His other Lamborghini is a Diablo.

Tease of 2013 Lexus LS sedan now on Facebook

Lexus is joining the social teasing party by uploading a darkened, smoky image of the redesigned 2013 Lexus LS sedan. We can't see much, but we do get a sense of the general shape of the car, which looks to be a bit more streamlined than the model it replaces. An earlier teaser shot showed the front end of the new LS.

Recall under way on 2013 Ford Escape to fix faulty fuel line

Ford is recalling the redesigned 2013 Escape SUV with the 1.6-liter engine to fix a fuel line that could break and lead to a fire. The automaker is telling owners of the recalled SUVs to not drive their vehicles and has told dealers not to sell units they have in stock. Ford says about 11,500 copies of the 2013 Escape with the 1.6-liter engine and the faulty fuel line in the engine compartment were built.

2012 Honda CR-V, 2013 Acura ILX recalled for door-latch fix

Honda is recalling about 166,000 copies of the 2012 Honda CR-V SUV and 6,200 copies of the 2013 Acura ILX sedan to fix a door latch. Honda says the release cable can come off the front door latch. If this happens, the door may not properly close or can open without warning, even when locked.

New Audi Q3 2.0 TDI quattro entry-level 4WD Q3

Audi has added a new entry-level quattro model to the Q3 range – the Q3 2.0 TDI quattro 140PS – expecetd to account for 40 per cent of Q3 sales. So you’ve been put of buying an Audi Q3 because you couldn’t have 4wd quattro on a 140PS 2.0 litre TDI? No problem, as Audi has now fixed that thorny little issue with the release of the Audi Q3 2.0 TDI quattro 140PS, fitting Audi’s lower powered diesel to offer a more frugal Q3.

Porsche 960 & Porsche Pajun on the way

A Porsche source has confirmed that Porsche are working on a smaller Panamera – the ‘Pajun’ – and a mid-engined Porsche 960. Now that Porsche has finally become part of VW, it can move forward with its plans to fill every supercar niche in the same way Audi is in a mission to fill – and create – every premium car niche. With two new models already officially confirmed as on the way – the Porsche Macan (a smaller Cayenne) and the Porsche 918 – Porsche’s minds are now firmly focused on the next two new models from Stuttgart – the eighth and ninth models in the range.

Rimac Concept_One Electric Supercar Salon Prive debut

The very impressive Rimac Concept_One electric hypercar, which debuted at Frankfurt 2011, is to show at Salon Prive. Now the Goodwood Festival of Speed  is over for another year, the next big petrolhead event is Salon Prive – which has been pushed back to September to avoid clashing with London 2012 – and Mate Rimac has announced his Rimac_One electric hypercar will be making its UK debut on the lawns of Syon Park. The Mitac_One, which was revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show last year and conceived by precocious 24yr old Mate Rimac,  is a technological tour de force for electric cars, offering four electric motors – one on each wheel – which can accelerate and decelerate independently to offer true four wheel vectoring and stunning handling.

Audi RS3 (2012) gets extended production run

Audi's RS3 hot hatch is back from the dead. The 335bhp quattro Sportback's initial production run was limited to 500 cars for right-hand drive, but pent up demand has convinced Audi to build another 250.    You'll have to be quick though: the first batch sold out in just days after the car's Geneva motor show reveal, without ever officially going on sale. The second run will also cost £39,930. Remind me of the Audi RS3's spec All the numbers are the same as the first 500 cars'.

Car Design Awards China winners head to Coventry University

Two Car Design China Award 2012 winners won the fantastic opportunity to spend two weeks in Coventry's Automotive Design department. We headed to Coventry to find out how Cao Chengang, a Tongji University graduate, and Gao Zhigiang, currently studying at Huazhong University of Science and Technology, are finding their time in the UK. After shaking off their jet lag they rolled their sleeves up and began an intense project under the watchful eye of the Art and Design school's senior lecturers.

Aspid shares more details of the GT-21 Invictus

Aspid Cars released the first set of photos of its upcoming GT-21 Invictus sports car. We last heard from the Spanish company in May when it was admonishing us for Photoshopping its teaser photo into view. The GT-21 looks aggressive, angular and wildly styled by IFR Automotive.

Porsche Panamera and Cayenne recalled for turbo issues

Porsche is recalling certain 2011 and 2012 Panamera Turbo and Turbo S sedans and the Cayenne Turbo for a problem with the turbine wheel of the turbocharger. A summary of the problem on the NHTSA site states that the wheel might fracture because of a casting defect. If that occurs, vehicle performance will be decreased and the turbine shaft might fracture, leading to more expensive repairs.

HondaLink Internet streaming launches with redesigned 2013 Accord

Honda will introduce technology, called HondaLink, that links vehicles with the Internet via smartphones with the redesigned 2013 Accord that goes on sale this fall. The HondaLink app on the driver's phone will access a large menu of information and entertainment services streamed from Aha, a service of audio-equipment supplier Harman. Honda's goal with HondaLink is to enable drivers to access services such as Slacker Internet radio and Yelp restaurant reviews without the need to touch their cell phones.

Ford Mustang RTR knocks on the door of the Boss 302

As customers continue to throw handfuls of dollars at Ford to get their hands on the Mustang Boss 302, the popularity of that car might leave some discerning Blue Oval buyers wanting something more unique. Enter Vaughn Gittin Jr., world champion drifter and Mustang fan, with his vision for the perfect 'Stang—the RTR. Designing and building the 2013 Ford Mustang RTR was a combined effort among Gittin Jr., Ford and Classic Design Concepts.

Top Gear Speed Week: 25 Best Performance Cars on video

Top Gear’s Speed Week has gathered together the 25 most inspiring performance cars for an outing at Dunsfold. It’s not the easiest trick to pull off – gathering 25 of the most inspiring performance cars of the last twelve months in one place – but Top Gear has managed it. They’ve gathered together everything from a Morgan Three-Wheeler to a Lamborghini Aventador at the Top Gear test track at Dunsfold for a serious two days of hooning and madness.

Audi RS3 – take two

Audi has decided to build an additional 250 Audi RS3 models for sale in the UK. Priced at the same £39,930 as before. It looks like Audi has found an extra 250 5-pot 2.5 litre engines lurking in the back of a cupboard, so it’s decided to churn out an extra run of 250 RS3s for the UK.

Kia Quoris is production name for equally daft Kia K9

Kia has decided that its range-topping take on the BMW 7 Series should enter the market as the Kia Quoris. We can understand why Kia made the decision to seek a name for its new range-topping saloon for markets outside South Korea. After all, Kia K9 has a distinctly ‘pooch’ feel in the West (not to mention Dr Who’s sidekick), and chuck in the Korean predilection for eating man’s best friend and you have a PR problem along the lines of the Mitsubishi Pajero in Spain.

Toyota TRD GT86 UK bound

The Toyota TRD GT86 – a titivated GT86 – is heading for the UK as a special edition of Toyota’s new sports car. The Toyota GT86 (and, for that matter, the Subaru BRZ) is exactly the sort of car Toyota should be building in the 21st century; good looking, fun and affordable, it fills a niche Toyota have long been absent from. The only drawback has been a feeling that the GT86 could be more aggressive than it is and, to a degree, the Toyota TRD GT86 fixes that.

New Honda CR-V arrives – again

The 2013 Honda CR-V has been revealed ahead of a launch in to the UK market in October after a Paris Motor Show debut. Regular readers may realise that this isn’t the first time we’ve announced the arrival of the new Honda CR-V. Back in March we revealed the new Honda CR-V was on the way to the Genev Motor Show before launching in the UK in September.

Aspid GT-21 Invictus revealed – sort of

Aspid – the Spanish supercar maker which was IFR Aspid – has revealed the first images, and video, of the new Aspid GT-21 Invictus. IFR Aspid made the Caterham-esque – and rather bonkers – Aspid SuperSport, but after a change of name to just ‘Aspid’ they teased a new car back in May, which looked to be more mainstream. That tease arrives as the Aspid GT-21 Invictus, which takes the starting point of the very ‘open’ SuperSport and clothes it in a new body that turns it in to more of a GT car – even if it still gets open front wheels.

Is this a Fiat 500T for the US? (video)

It’s rumoured a Fiat 500T is about to launch in the USA, and we perhaps have the first look in a new Fiat 500 commercial. Even though we’re living in a car world that’s more global in its offerings than ever before, there are still significant differences between offerings in different markets. The Fiat 500 in the US offers an Abarth in its range, but just so the colonials don’t get confused it’s badged as the Fiat 500 Abarth rather than Abarth 500.