M274 Mule Engine Pulley on 2040-parts.com

CAR tech: who's to blame for your car's terrible fuel economy?

In early 2013 Audi lost a case brought by the Advertising Standard Agency (ASA) because of ‘misleading’ fuel economy figures used in an advert, after a customer complained they couldn’t get anywhere near the 68mpg quoted. The court case once more exposes the yawning gap between officially sanctioned mpg figures and those experienced by owners. A recent study by the Independent Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) looked at cars sold in the UK and Europe, and discovered the difference between official mpg figures and real-world driving had grown from 8% in 2001 to a barely believable 21% in 2011.

AUCTION GOES BANANAS FOR CLASSIC VW

A VINTAGE 1950s Volkswagen Beetle owned by a pensioner will go under the hammer at an auction later this month. The classic car, which has picked up a number of awards, is expected to fetch around £9,000 when it appears alongside a selection of rare art and antiques in the McTear's Collectables sale in Glasgow on September 29. The 1953 Beetle, which is a 1200 Deluxe model, has been in the hands of 72-year-old Willie Black since 1966, the same year that VW gave it the Best Beetle in Britain accolade.

Ford Edge (2015) first official pictures

By Phil McNamara First Official Pictures 20 November 2013 10:00 Ford will take on the Nissan X-Trail, Volvo XC60 and Korea’s big SUVs with the second-generation Edge, which is coming to Europe around 2015. Unveiled today (20 November) in concept form, the Edge will sit above the baby EcoSport and mid-size Kuga and complete Ford’s European SUV line-up. The concept has a couple of high-tech tricks up its tailpipe: the Edge can park itself without anyone in the driving seat, and steer around obstacles if you’re bearing down on an obstruction.