Ski Doo Xm Billet Wheel on 2040-parts.com

First Sight: Mini

The first 'New' Mini was launched just five years ago, replacing the original Mini that had changed only in detail since its 1959 debut. Designed by Frank Stephenson, now head of design at Fiat, the current design has been a sales success and most significantly has been very influential in demonstrating how small cars need not be explicitly functionalist, smaller versions of larger car types or feel cheap. The new 'New' Mini, designed under the direction of Gert Hildebrand at Mini, is announced today with exterior design by Marcus Syring, interior design by Marc Girard and colour and trim design by Annette Baumeister.

Beware valet parking insurance loophole

USING A VALET parking service could mean losing your car with no insurance cover. Drivers are being warned to check their insurance policies before handing over their car keys to valet parking attendants as more than half (51%) of the UK’s motor insurance policies do not cover this service. While valet parking companies provide insurance cover for their employees to drive your car, many insurance policies do not cover ‘damage to vehicle while in the control of valet parking staff.’ This means if your car is damaged or written off while it’s being parked or retrieved by valet parking staff, you could be left seriously out of pocket with no claim against the valet parking company.

Renault Twizy Sport F1 concept

The Renault Twizy Sport F1 concept has been unveiled at Renault's plant in Vallalodid, Spain. A collaboration between both Renault Sport F1 and Renault Sport Technologies, the concept sits on the wheels of a single-seater racecar and features a front splitter, side-pods, a rear wing and a diffuser with an F1-style rain light. When looking at the concept, which measures in at 2,600mm long, 1,490mm wide and 1,450mm high, the tires are one of the first things you see, and are the same as those fitted to the Formula Renault 2.0 single-seater.