Pioneer Deh-x3600ui on 2040-parts.com

UK has 'highest car running costs'

THE UK is the most expensive country in the world for running a car, according to a new survey. Comparing the cost of fuel, insurance, road tax and MOT, on average it costs the UK motorist £3,453 a year, which is £1,000 more than in the USA and Australia, £1,825 than Japan and a full £2,000 more than in China. The survey, conducted by Webuyanycar.com, compared the cost of motoring in 21 countries on five continents, and revealed that on many fronts the UK motorist is paying more than anyone else.

Porsche Battery – a mere £1200

The rather expensive Porsche Lithium Ion Battery Car batteries have been roughly the same shape and size – and utilised basically the same lead-acid technology – for years. They’ve got better, as you no longer need to top them up with distilled water at regular intervals (I’m showing my age now), and they are less prone to going flat. But that probably has more to do with alternators replacing dynamos than the batteries themselves.

JAC SC-9 concept promises new brand identity, hi-tech interface for Beijing

The JAC SC-9 concept is the latest concept to be announced ahead of next week's Beijing motor show. A statement from the company describes this crossover as combining the "exclusivity of a luxury Gran Turismo, the flexibility of a genuine off-road vehicle and the excitement of a high performance sports car" and we're interested to see how these characteristics are brought together. Designed in JAC's Turin-based Italian Style Centre under design director Lou Tik, the SC-9 is also said to introduce a new brand identity for the Chinese carmaker as well as featuring "ground-breaking interface technology".