Grady White Cushion Wrap Around 272 on 2040-parts.com

Hot Octavia now with diesel power

By Phil McNamara Motor Industry 18 August 2006 09:01 A grunty, 170bhp diesel engine will join Skoda's high performance vRS range in September. The engine will be available in the Octavia hatch and estate, priced at £18,370 and £19,200 respectively. The 2.0-litre TDI kicks out 258lb ft, more twist action than a BMW 330i.

LA Auto Show Design Challenge theme: 'Sensing the Future: How Will Cars Interact with Us In 2029?'

The Los Angeles Auto Show has confirmed the theme for its annual Design Challenge. This year marks the eleventh time the contest has been held, and eight global design studios will each produce a concept to showcase a connected vehicle or interface system in response to the theme: 'Sensing the Future: How Will Cars Interact with Us In 2029?' The show's organizers have confirmed that BMW Group DesignworksUSA, Honda USA, Honda Japan, McLaren Automotive, Nissan, Peterbilt Motors, Qoros Auto, and SAIC Motor MG will all take part. "Los Angeles is one of the world's most dynamic cities constantly keeping its eye on the future of technological advancements that largely affect our daily lives," said Lisa Kaz, President of the LA Auto Show.

Bentley SUV to get W12 engine

The Bentley SUV will get a W12 engine option Back in July we had the talkative Bentley boss Wolfgang Dürheimer musing that Bentley will produce the ultimate luxury SUV, with plans to take the underpinnings from sister company Porsche’s Cayenne and make the most opulent SUV on the planet. The plan for a Bentley SUV has been around for a while, but the perception by car makers that big SUVs were unpalatable to the general public in these eco-obsessed times meant plans by many car makers to build an SUV were left to gather dust on the shelves. But those car makers who chose to ignore the brickbats directed at big SUVs have proved that there is big demand for luxury monsters (the Cayenne has turned in to Porsche’s biggest cash cow) and that the anti-SUV lobby was simply a very small bunch of eco-mentalists making headlines.