Volvo Xc90 2006 Rear Roof Antenna Amplifier Factory on 2040-parts.com

17,000 solar panels to power Toyota’s Derbyshire plant

Toyota’s manufacturing plant at Burnaston in Derbyshire, where the Auris and Avensis are built, will install the biggest solar panel system yet seen in a UK car plant.  British Gas, which will stump up the £10 million cost of installing the solar panels, and Toyota are working together to save 2000 tonnes of CO2 emissions a year. Once the solar panels are installed, they claim it will save enough energy to build approximately 7000 cars a year.

Europe’s economic problems sees UK become biggest Ferrari market in Europe

The Ferrari F12 (pictured) helped Ferrari to strong profits in the first half of 2013 The economic crisis in the Eurozone has seen Ferrari’s sales in countries like Italy and Spain plummet, and Greece managed just one sale in 2012 (and even that came to the UK). But Ferrari have a plan to keep profitability by limiting supply and achieving stronger revenues for the sale they do make – with stuff like Ferrari’s bespoke Atelier and Tailor Made services and Classiche work adding more revenue – to keep them powering forward, and it seems to be working despite poor sales in many European countries. In fact, despite an increase of just 2.8 per cent in volume, Ferrari has managed to increase their profits in the first six months of 2013 by an impressive 20 per cent, with total sales of 3,767 and net profits of €1.22 million.

Video: The Making of the Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo

In a new video exploring the design of the AMG Vision Gran Turismo, Mercedes-Benz designers speak of their excitement at designing without restrictions. The video, which features figures such as design vice-president Gorden Wagener, traces the car's development from the sketch phase to the final model – unveiled at last month's Los Angeles auto show. Steffen Köhl, director advanced design global, says, "We had the mix between the very far away showcar design – free and pure emotion – and a car that reacts realistically in the game." "The most stunning aspect of this car is the proportion.