Cardone 26-2140 Rack & Pinion Complete Unit on 2040-parts.com

Driven: Range Rover Evoque

As Sam Livingstone opines in his review of the latest Porsche 911, we are in a period of car design consolidation, with the new 911 the ultimate expression of a slightly suffocating trend. Yet every so often, a vehicle appears that breaks these rules and – through a combination of factors that can be difficult to quantify – captures the imagination, becoming a symbol of the times and an overnight market success. Such vehicles tend to emerge once a decade or so, yet the late 90s and early noughties were extraordinary for giving birth to three – the Ford Ka of '96, Audi TT of '98 and Mini of '01.

Nissan at the London motor show 2008

By Ben Whitworth Motor Shows 22 July 2008 14:12 Nissan pulled off a cornucopia of intriguing new models at the London show – with some pretty weird extremes, as practical family cars jostled for attention with supercars and tallboy square city cars. What's new on Nissan's London motor show stand? Proudly displaying its patriotism, Nissan pulled the covers of its Sunderland-built Qashqai+2 – one of the few real global debuts at the show.

Fewer commuters but longer journeys

PEOPLE ARE TRAVELLING further to get to work but the number of commuters is falling as more staff work from home, according to official figures. Based on Census statistics, the average distance travelled to work in England and Wales increased from 8.3 miles (13.4km) in 2001 to 9.32 miles (15km) in 2011. Those living in the Midlands and south west England had the largest increase in average distance travelled between 2001 and 2011 - going an extra 1.36 miles (2.2km).