Blog on 2040Parts

Bridgestone’s ‘We’ve been everywhere’ Road Trip prize giving

Bridgestone’s ‘I’ve been everywhere’ Road Trip Flogging tyres isn’t the easiest job in the world; we all need them – at intervals far too regular than we’d like – but buyers tend to fall in to two camps – those who know a brand and ask for it by name, and those that have put on their car whatever the man at Kwik Fit is pushing this week. So ‘Brand Awareness’ is the name of the game (a game that can backfire – just ask Pirelli what’s going on in F1) and the more potential buyers a tyre brand can lodge its name in the brain of, the better. Which is why Bridgestone are running their We’ve been everywhere interactive campaign which very cleverly plots the escape of one man from office drudgery and showcases his journey out in to the proper world, all to a soundtrack of Johnny Cash’s ‘I’ve been everywhere’.

Ultimate MINI John Cooper Works goes up for auction

British Car Auctions (BCA) is offering one very specially specified MINI Cooper S John Cooper Works. The car is set to go under the hammer on Wednesday 15 August at BCA's Blackbushe auction centre. This MINI actually boasts nearly every factory option originally available for the car and cost over £30,000 when it was built back in 2011 – from customised exterior and interior parts, engine and chassis upgrades and in-car gadgets, this MINI is full to bursting with options. And it could be yours… Please click on the image above to read more on the mega specification MINI John Cooper Works

Sci-fi Audi from Ender’s Game movie revealed

It’s an Audi, Jim, but not as we know it – this sleek, ground-hugging machine is a four-ringed future mobile from the forthcoming blockbuster science-fiction movie, Ender’s Game. It’s called the Audi Fleet Shuttle Quattro, and – like the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band’s ‘Urban Spaceman’ – here comes the twist: it doesn’t actually exist. Please click the image above to read more about the Audi Fleet Shuttle Quattro On Bing: see pictures of the Audi Fleet Shuttle QuattroOn Bing: see pictures of the Audi RSQFind out how much a used Audi costs on Auto TraderRead an Audi review on MSN carsLego launches Back to the Future DeLorean time machineHow to film the perfect Hollywood movie car chase

Yet another Kia Compact Crossover Concept heading for Frankfurt 2013

Yet another Kia Compact Crossover Concept (pictured) heading for Frankfurt We do seem to have had something of a run of concepts from Kia lately – particularly Compact SUV/Crossover Concepts – but none seem to be heading for production. Already in 2013 we’ve had the Kia Provo Concept, which looked like a suitably funky urban warrior to take on the market the Nissan Juke made its own, even if the ‘Provo’ name caused publicity-seeking politicians to spit and stomp. Following close on the heels of the Provo came the Kia CUB for the Seoul Motor Show (note the cuddly name – Kia didn’t want to shoot themselves in the foot again) which, although entirely convincing, just looked like yet another urban warrior compact crossover/SUV.

OFFICIAL: Spyker B6 Venator Spyder to debut at Pebble Beach – tease begins

The tease begins for the Spyker B6 Venator Spyder Back in June we revealed that Spyker appeared to be heading to this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show with the B6 Venator Spyder, before which it would make an appearance at Salon Prive for a bit of a Garden Party. That was made even more certain when we revealed that Spyker would take the Venator Spyder to Pebble Beach for a reveal ahead of both the Frankfurt Show and Salon Prive a week or so ago. And now Spyker have confirmed.

Ferrari team van from new Rush movie heads to auction

For petrolheads, it's one of the mostly hotly anticipated films of 2013. It's called Rush and it documents the intense rivalry between James Hunt and Niki Lauda during the famous 1976 Formula One season. A couple of years ago, an Austin A35 van formerly owned by James Hunt was sold at auction.

Schumacher's old F1 car sells for a bargain £195k

When can you ever call a £195,000 classic Formula One car a bargain? When it was driven by the most successful F1 driver ever, Michael Schumacher. This Benetton-Ford B191 was due to go up for auction with Coys this Saturday 10 August at the Nurburgring, but the car has now been sold ahead of going under the hammer for just £195,000.

Lotus announces 100 new jobs

Lotus Lotus is on a recruitment drive - prompting confidence that the iconic British sportscar firm’s future looks brighter than it has for years. The company has suffered a rollercoaster ride since relaunching in 2010 with a bold promise to build five new sportscars and a supermini. But the architect of that plan, CEO Dany Bahar, was fired by the company's Malaysian owners and the expansion has since been wound down.

You could own Jeremy Clarkson's old Jaguar XJR

This is quite possibly the best Jaguar XJR… in the world. And that's because it was formerly owned by a certain Jeremy Clarkson. So you can bet your life he spent many hours smoking in the big supercharged cat.

Ford Euro tuning partner Mountune sets up shop in US

U.K.-based Ford tuner Mountune is opening up a satellite location in California. The company is not well known on this side of the Atlantic, but across the pond it enjoys the status of being Ford's official European tuning partner. Mountune will be offering high-performance racing components for a number of Ford vehicles in the states, and we're excited to see what they'll be able to do with the rabid Ford Focus ST and Fiesta ST models.

2014 Ram 1500, 1500 EcoDiesel tow ratings announced

Chrysler has announced the gasoline-powered 2014 Ram 1500 and 2014 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel tow ratings. The 305-hp Pentastar V6 can handle up to 7,450 lbs. Ram calls this performance “class-leading,” but there's a catch: If the consumer compares the base-level versions of the Ford F-150, GMC Sierra 1500 the Ram 1500 then it is true that the Ram 1500 edges out the competition.

Infiniti Q30 concept rendered ahead of Frankfurt motor show reveal

Infiniti has released a rendering of its upcoming Q30 concept, which will be unveiled at this year's Frankfurt motor show in September. The Q30 concept is intended as a contemporary design vision for a future compact vehicle from the brand. "This Infiniti Q30 concept is a prelude to the product portfolio expansion which underpins our aggressive global growth strategy," said Johan de Nysschen, Infiniti president.

Wait, is the WhaleMobile still for sale?

In 2009 -- which is about 40 years ago in Internet time -- the motor-mad, mountain-dwelling master-mechanic known to Autoweek readers as Murilee Martin took to the pages of Jalopnik -- yes, it was printed back then -- to describe an ad he found on Craigslist. Here's the full text of the original ad: WhaleMobile *UNIQUE* This one of a kind "WhaleMobile" is for sale. It needs new tires, but otherwise starts right up and runs fine.

One Lap of the Web: Life with an E28 M5, Senna's NSX and the taxi of the future

-From our friends at Motoring Con Brio comes this report on BMW E28 M5 ownership. Early observations suggest that the car likes to go fast and burn a ton of gas in the process. -Bring a Trailer has an eBay listing for a Honda NSX that was supposed to have been gifted to Ayrton Senna by his sponsor Antonio de Almeida Braga.

Audi designs car for 'Ender's Game' sci-fi movie

Audi has designed a futuristic car for the upcoming sci-fi action blockbuster Ender's Game. The carmaker joined forces with director Gavin Hood and his production team to digitally integrate its first entirely virtual car – the Audi Fleet Shuttle Quattro – into the futuristic environment of the film. Frank Rimili, chief designer for the film project, said, "Designing the Audi Fleet Shuttle Quattro was similar to customizing a tailor-made suit.

2014 Subaru WRX and STI pricing released

The Subaru WRX and WRX STI are now in their final model year before they're replaced by an all-new version, and Subaru has just released prices for the 2014 model year. Both cars get a $200 bump for 2014, and destination charges rise, too. The 265-hp 2014 WRX will now start at $26,790 and will be keeping its 2.5-liter turbocharged and intercooled four-cylinder boxer engine and five-speed manual transmission.

Infiniti confirms Q30 concept unveil in Frankfurt

Infiniti is to unveil the Q30 concept C-segment hatchback at next month's Frankfurt motor show. The Q30 concept, which has been previewed in a sketch, could be a pre-production version of the Etherea – first seen at the 2011 Geneva motor show –based on the same platform as the Mercedes-Benz A-Class. It's the carmaker's latest exploration into new premium segments and signifies an expansion of its product range as it moves to strengthen its global position.

Vauxhall Adam gets new 1.0 litre 3-cylinder engine, Cascada new new 1.6 SIDI turbo with 197bhp

Vauxhall Adam & Vauxhall Cascada get new engines Vauxhall (and Opel, for that matter) are on a mission to fit new, more powerful and more efficient engines in cars across their range, and new engines are on their way for the Vauxhall Adam and the new Cascada. The Vauxhall Adam gets a new 1.0 litre 3-cylinder engine from GM’s SGE (Small Gasoline Engine) family that will ultimately offer 3 and 4-cylinder engines up to 1.6 litres. The 1.0 litre 3-pot for the Adam gets 113bhp and 122lb/ft of torque (it’s Vauxhall’s take on the hugely successful 1.0 litre EcoBoost Ford are busy introducing across their range) mated to a new six-speed gearbox.

Infiniti Q30 concept (2013) first picture of Infiniti’s 1-series rival

This is our first look at the new Infiniti Q30 hatchback’s styling, in official design sketch form. Infiniti will display the actual Q30 concept at the Frankfurt motor show in September 2013 – the showroom model goes into production in 2015. It’s good news for the UK – 60,000 new Q30s will roll off the production line at parent-brand Nissan’s Sunderland factory every year.

New MINI to be revealed on 18th November – Sir Alec Issigonis’ birthday

The new MINI will be revealed on 18th November A couple of weeks ago, MINI revealed the MINI Vision Concept at the MINI Design Studios in Munich which previews the new Mk3 MINI, although it wasn’t a physical car, just a projected hologram. But the real new MINI isn’t far from a reveal, and MINI has announced that it will arrive on 18th November, which just happens to be the 107th birthday of the creator of the original Mini – Sir Alec Issigonis. The reveal will take place at the MINI Plant in Oxford with a party in London the same evening to celebrate, and on the 20th November the new MINI will be revealed in public at events in Los Angeles and Tokyo ahead of the Tokyo and Los Angeles Motor Shows.

'Porsche by Design: Relentlessly Pursuing Perfect’ short film released [w/Video]

‘Porsche by Design: Relentlessly Pursuing Perfect' is the latest in a series of historical videos released by the North Carolina Museum of Art ahead of its upcoming exhibition, ‘Porsche by Design: Seducing Speed'. The latest episode walks viewers through the carmaker's history and evolution and features former Porsche director of design Harma Lagaaij – credited with the design of the 924 and also BMW's Z1 – along with a number of automotive critics and historians along with Speaking of the part he played in the evolution of Porsche, he says "I was never afraid of changing this icon. On the contrary, I was convinced with my design team to never stand still, never be complacent about it being good enough, it being popular and famous and there's no need to change it.

Are the Mini Coupe and Roadster on their way out?

The slow-selling Mini Coupe and Roadster could be replaced by an all new sports model soon, Australian site CarSales is reporting. The pair haven't fired up the Mini faithful as some other recent models from the brand, and a refreshed Mini lineup is on the horizon including 18 new cars based on Mini's two platforms. Knowing Mini's ability to spin off models, that number doesn't sound too far-fetched.

Porsche 918 infotainment system to be based on HTML5

While some automakers, like Ford and General Motors, are beginning to open up their code to outside developers via application programming interfaces, Porsche's taking a very interesting route for the 918 Spyder's infotainment system. The the hybrid supercar's dashboard interface uses the same code that the modern Internet runs on: HTML5. Germany's AutoBild reports that Porsche cites the ease of programming as part of their rationale for the system; smartphone integration is another.

Nissan may build more Leaf EVs to meet growing demand

Nissan is making plans to begin building more electric Leafs as dealers clamor for more of the once slow-selling car. The automaker's North American factory chief -- who has been visiting with retailers in recent days -- cautions that production will move ahead in small and careful steps. But Nissan is already taking measures to increase its output of electric motors from its engine factory in Decherd, Tenn., says Bill Krueger, Nissan Americas vice chairman and senior vice president for manufacturing, purchasing production engineering and supply chain management.

Ralph Gilles talks past, present and SRT future

Ralph Gilles -- SRT boss, Chrysler vice president of design, curator of something called the "Man Van," has become the public face of Chrysler performance, carrying the legacy of Firepower engines and 428 Coronets and the Dodge Viper RT/10 into the future with the Challenger, Charger and Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8s. Since "unofficially" helping form it in 2003, Gilles has seen SRT transformed into Chrysler's most coherent performance strategy since Plymouth Rapid Transit, a company-wide force so much greater than the flagship Dodge Viper. He was there from the beginning.

Hyundai i10 (2013) at Frankfurt motor show

This is the new second-gen Hyundai i10. Aimed directly at the VW Up, Hyundai’s new city car will take the fight to Volkswagen armed with a roomier cabin and trickle-down luxury car gadgets, like automatic climate control, a heated leather steering wheel, and cruise control. Are you sure it’s not the new i20?

Uwe Bahnsen 1930-2013

The design world remembers Uwe Bahnsen, who passed away on 30 July aged 83. Born in Hamburg, he studied Fine Arts at the Hochschule für Bildende Künste before joining Ford in 1958. His final position at the blue oval was vice president of design, which he held until 1986.

Art Center and Clemson University students unveil Mazda Deep Orange 3 concept

Art Center College of Design and Clemson University students joined forces to design and develop a next-generation Mazda concept, the Deep Orange 3. The Deep Orange 3, which features a body designed by Art Center student Frederick Naaman, has been unveiled at the Center for Automotive Research Management's Briefing Seminars in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The project started with market research focusing on what kind of car Generation Y would want to drive, with the results showing that the majority wanted five or more seats.

Hyundai i10 (2014)

This all-new Hyundai i10 is the second generation of the Korean brand's European-designed and engineered A-segment hatch. It's 80mm longer, 65mm wider and 50mm lower than its predecessor, although its wheelbase has only grown by 5mm. This new set of dimensions reduces some of the upright look of its predecessor as Hyundai strives to shift its model range further upmarket.

Transmissions gone wild!

If you've been car shopping recently, or just paying attention to Autoweek car reviews, you've noticed that the six-speed automatic -- de rigueur as recently as a year ago -- suddenly has ratio envy. The new hotness? Eight- and nine-speed automatic transmissions.