Standard Motor Products Pc645 Cam Position Sensor on 2040-parts.com

2013 Australian Motor Show axed

This year’s Australian Motor Show in Melbourne has been cancelled by its organizers three months before its planned opening. Falling attendance figures played a big part in taking the decision, as did what is seen as a lack of manufacturer support. The Australian International Motor Show Joint Venture's event director Russ Tyrie said the decision was taken "based on a consensus view of the automotive industry to focus limited marketing budgets in 2013 on firm-specific activities, rather than an industry-based motor show." The Volkswagen Group's decision not to attend may well have acted as the final nail in the coffin along with Hyundai's hesitancy despite initial support.

New MG: Is this the MG2?

Is this a new mini MG - the MG2? Despite it looking at one point last year as if MG – certainly in the UK – was close to biting the dust, we now know that the SAIC Roewe 550 will be made in the UK and sold throughout Europe as the MG6 in hatchback form and the MG5 as a saloon. But now we’re getting news from China that there is a mini MG in the pipeline – the MG2 – and that this car will be turning up as soon as the Beijing Motor Show as an MG and not – as is usual for SAIC – as a Roewe which then spawns an MG.

BMW X1 gets updated for 2014

The 2014 BMW X1 (pictured) gets a tweaked front end The BMW X1 arrived back in 2009 as a high-riding Sports Activity Vehicle (BMW’s preferred description for their compact SUV come crossover) and had a bit of a facelift for 2012 to keep it fresh. Now, two years on from the last facelift, BMW has decided they need to up the ante a little (especially with more competition arriving in the shape of the new Mercedes GLA) so the BMW X1 is getting a mild makeover for 2014. The only real changes you’ll notice are tweaks to the front end of the X1 with new accents on the bumper and a bigger air intake, daytime running lights across the X1 range, new 17″ alloys and the availability of Sparkling Brown metallic to the paint colour options.