Studebaker, Breather Cap, Used. Item: 8563 on 2040-parts.com

Good news for British car factories

NEW FIGURES have revealed that UK-based car production raced ahead in April, resulting in the biggest monthly rise since July 2012. A total of 133,437 cars were made in the UK last month – a 21.3% increase on the April 2013 figure, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said. The excellent April figures took the year-so-far total to 538,240 – a 6.9% rise on the figure for January-April 2013.

New Lotus Elan revealed

The new Lotus Elan I know, you’re starting to get bored and wondering how on earth Lotus can suddenly churn out a range of models that are seemingly poles apart from where they are, and expect it to be credible. But they’be done it. And they’re serious.

NHTSA report: Audi S8 tops 2009 theft rates

The Audi S8 and the Toyota Camry stood out among the most stolen 2009 passenger vehicles in a report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The just-released report tracked theft rates for all new 2009 passenger vehicles stolen that year. It excludes most SUVs and pickups, so the Cadillac Escalade won't make this list.