Yamaha 4xy-81960-00 Rectifier & Regulator Assy on 2040-parts.com

Mercedes GLA goes subterranean

FOR SUV owners looking to test their cars’ off-road credentials, the obvious place to put them to the test probably isn’t nearly 200 metres underground. But that’s exactly where the new Mercedes GLA found itself as it descended into Winsford Rock Salt Mine, 620 feet beneath the Cheshire countryside. The working mine, which supplies much of the UK’s gritting salt for wintry roads, played host to four standard (apart from extra driving lights) GLA models, which were lowered down into the mine nose first before being let loose in the 130-mile network of tunnels.

New Ford Focus ST (2012): The Video

2012 Ford Focus ST - Video below There’s nothing quite like signposting a new car well ahead of its reveal, and Ford are taking no chances on the 2012 Ford Focus ST with some teasers ahead of the Paris Motor Show reveal and a bit of detail at Paris. Even though the 2102 Focus ST won’t be ready to roll in to showrooms and out to customers for at least a year, we do have some gen on the oily bits. For example, we know thet the Volvo 2.5 litre lump that did sterling service in the old ST is being dropped in favour of the 2.0 litre EcoBoost.

Fiat 500 gets Stop-Start

Flavour of the month, stop-start, and here’s another to add to the list. The Fiat 500 gets Start&Stop (I’ve lost count of the different monikers) as an option on the 1.2 Lounge, using Bosch technology to beef up the system to make it reliable. The Stop/Start also gets another Fiat moniker – Blue&Me – which gives the driver EcoDrive to aid emissions and adds hands-free phone and an entertainment system.