Audi A4 Passat Vacuum Switching Valve Solenoide 026 906 283 H on 2040-parts.com

Cash for clunkers: Is it ready for prime time in America?

One proposed solution to prop up new-car sales in the United States involves paying bonuses to owners of older vehicles who send their cars to the scrapyard and buy new ones. Proponents say that not only does the auto industry benefit, but so does the environment, as emissions decrease and fuel economy typically improves in newer models. Critics, however, say that scrapping older vehicles hurts collectors by reducing the number of older models available and also hurts those least able to afford to buy newer vehicles by driving up the price of used cars.

VW Passat: New distance world record

VW Passat World distance Record When you as old as I am (or at least as old as I feel) you can’t help but be astonished at the feats of economy car makers seem able to wring from even quite serious, upmarket cars. Yesterday we reported on the Mercedes S250 CDI which manages to perform like a 1990s V8 S-Class whilst simultaneously doing nearly 50mpg. Which to an old git like me – who thought his 3.0 litre Capri in his teen years was doing well if it got 18mpg – is a bit hard to acccept.

Ferrari 599 Hybrid at Geneva

The report of the Ferrari 599 Hybrid destined for Geneva We know that Ferrari are doing what every other car maker is and working on systems to cut their average CO2 emissions, save a few bob and look a bit more ‘Eco’. There is already an electric Ferrari powertrain in development and Ferrari have in effect been trialing hybrid technology with their F1 cars equipped with KERS. So it comes as no huge surprise that it’s being reported Ferrari are to bring a hybrid version of the 599 to the Geneva Motor Show next year.