Standard Horizon Eclipse Dsc Marine Vhf Radio on 2040-parts.com

Car hire costs branded ‘extortionate’

MORE THAN 45% of hire car users described hidden costs such as insurance and fuel as extortionate, according to a new survey. 200 UK consumers aged over 30 and earning more than £20,000 per annum were quizzed for the survey, conducted on behalf of Carhiremarket.com, with over 45% agreeing that hidden costs for insurance and fuel were extortionate. Users cited greater transparency or an all-inclusive upfront price as a more desirable option.

CAR scoop: BMW and Toyota's joint sports car plot

BMW is buddying up with Toyota on an all-new sports car platform, set to underpin the replacements for the Z4, 6-series and GT86. The unlikely collaboration stems from an alliance that began in 2011, where BMW and Toyota agreed to co-develop next-generation lithium ion batteries, and for Toyota to use BMW’s fourpot diesels in its European cars. An engineering team is beavering away on the project, with the clock ticking: the suits want to outline the car’s specification before the end of 2013. What does BMW get out of the bargain?

Jaguar XF 2012 Spy Photo

Camouflaged 2012 Jaguar XF It only seems like five minutes since Jaguar started its style Renaissance with the very good Jaguar XF. Gone was the pastiche of past glories – the Jaguar S Type – and in came a perfect rendition of a contemporary, 21st century Jaguar. Jaguar dared to shed the shackles of its past to produce a cool and contemporary car, which has shown that Jaguar can still make one of the best ‘Executive Expresses’ in the world.