Two Studebaker Fender Badges Excellent on 2040-parts.com

Volkswagen to launch budget brand, priced from £4800

Volkswagen is planning to launch a new budget brand to challenge the likes of Dacia – and the bargain basement minis will be sold in Europe too. Prices for the yet-nameless new cheap VWs will start from just €6000, or £4800, according to paperwork seen by CAR. How can VW build city cars so cheaply?

Audi RS6 Avant heads for EJAF with a little help from Gwyneth Paltrow

Gwyneth Paltrow signing an Audi RS6 Avant heading for Elton John’s White Tie & Tiara Auction Audi UK has a bit of a history of donating cars for auction at Elton John’s annual White Tie & Tiara Ball in aid of the Elton John Aids Foundation, and 2013′s no different. In the past we’ve had the appealing R8 Spyder as an EJAF auction lot and an A1 painted by Damien Hirst, but this year the EJAF is getting the super-estate Audi RS6 Avant, scribbled on by the delectable Gwyneth Paltrow. Audi roped in Gwyneth to turn up at the UK launch of the new RS6 Avant at Audi City in London and got her scribbling her moniker  on the interior of the RS6, a task Audi says would make their uber-shed worth £88k if they sold it – but if previous EJAF auctions of Audi’s cars is anything to go by it’ll fetch a lot more than that when the hammer goes down.

NHTSA probes shattering liftgate glass on Ford SUVs

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating about 200,000 copies of the 2010 and 2011 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner SUVs for liftgate glass that reportedly shatters. There have been 18 complaints of the liftgate window breaking, four resulting in injuries. The models involved were built on or before Oct.