K Source/fit System 70507t Door Mirror Passenger Side on 2040-parts.com

Honda to enter BTCC with new Civic Tourer

What do One Direction and Honda’s British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) team have in common? While both were initially likeable and talented, they’re now starting to get a little bit too cocky. With four successive championship wins under its belt, Honda has announced that it will enter its new Civic Tourer estate into the BTCC next year.

2013 Nissan LEAF updated

Nissan has updated the LEAF EV in Japan for 2013 with better range, less weight and a new LEAF S entry-level model. Revealed in Japan – but likely to come to the UK from 2013 when the LEAF starts rolling out of Nissan’s Sunderland factory – there are significant upgrades to the powertrain which result in both less weight and better range. Nissan has had a play with the electric powertrain and made it both smaller and lighter with a new motor that uses 40 per cent less dysprosium (a rare earth metal) than before, and comes in 30 per cent smaller and 10 per cent lighter, and a new streamline battery case and a few other tweaks drops the LEAF’s weight by 80kg.

2012 Focus ST final testing

2012 Ford Focus ST - complete with sperm camouflage Ford has got the 2011 Focus out in to the real world, and if the number that fly round the roads near here is anything to go by it’s selling very well. Of course, we’re in the heart of Ford Exec country here so they could all be Ford cars for ‘er indoors. But with the hard work out of the way on the bread and butter stuff, it’s time for Ford to pay more attention to a Focus with a bit more get up and go.