Deco Relay, Relais, Kia, Deco, 0 K53b 67 740 on 2040-parts.com

Ford resurrects Vignale name in an attempt to add premiumness to mainstream models

Ford is resurrecting the name of renowned Italian design house Vignale in an attempt to bring its mainstream models up market in Europe. Of course this isn't Ford's first experience of using a defunct carrozzeria for its range-topping models – remember Ghia? The first of these new models will be the Mondeo, which will appear with Vignale badging, lashings of chrome and quilted leather in Frankfurt next week.

Get your car ready for spring

As the salt and sand are washed away from the roadways, and potholes the size of moon craters appear, vehicle maintenance should move to the forefront. You made it. The wretched winter weather has left your ride grungy and maybe even a little clunky.

Tennis star Sharapova gets a lift from Porsche racer Webber

FRENCH OPEN tennis champion Maria Sharapova arrived at a pre-Wimbledon party thanks to Australian race Mark Webber The Porsche 918 Spyder is the most powerful road car, and least polluting, the company has built. The plug-in hybrid super sports car can reach a top speed of 214 mph, sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds, and it produces so little CO2 that it is exempt from the London congestion charge. Webber arrived fresh from his first outing at the Le Mans 24 hour race with new team Porsche, following his retirement from Formula 1 at the end of last season.