M127 Trim Tab Zinc on 2040-parts.com

Fernandes confirms Team Lotus-Caterham deal

Tony Fernandes has officially confirmed that Team Lotus Enterprises has taken over tiny British sports-car maker Caterham Cars. Named after the London suburb where it was founded, Caterham bought the rights to the Lotus Seven design in 1973 and has been exploiting it ever since with increasingly sophisticated models that stay true to the original concept. The company is now based in Dartford, close to the Brands Hatch race circuit.

LA auto show 2011 review by Ben Pulman

When the automotive industry was in the midst of recession, the LA auto show carved out a niche for itself as the place to be seen to be green. Detroit represented the big, bad gas-guzzling old school, but the forward-thinking culture of southern California meant the relaxed atmosphere of the LA Convention Centre was the perfect setting to preview the smaller, more compact and more fuel-efficient future. This year it was different.

Jaguar tops J. D. Power Survey again in 2013

Even though the Jaguar XF actually slipped from 2nd to 3rd in the top cars section (although it was the ‘Best Executive Car’), behind the Skoda Superb and Skoda Yeti, it received five star ratings for performance, service and running costs and owners rated it as ‘Excellent’ across all categories. And it was more good news for Jaguar Land Rover as Land Rover was rated the most improved brand in 2013, jumping in to the top ten (in 6th place) for the first time, with Freelander owners noting an improved dealer experience and Discovery owners reporting 30 per cent fewer faults – and actually leading the SUV sector for reliability. That’ll help the still lingering perception that JLR’s cars can be ‘fragile’.