Buick to scrap trim levels

Buick will eliminate its “CX,” “CXL” and “CXS” trim levels in the 2012 model year, opting for a few “stair-step” packages instead, one of the brand's top marketers said today. “It isn't befitting a premium brand. No other premium brand has those designations,” said Craig Bierley, Buick-GMC director of advertising and sales promotion.

VW Golf (2012) - prices for new Mk7 Golf from £16,330

Volkswagen today announced prices for the new Mk7 Golf. It'll start from £16,330 on-the-road - and the good news is, that's cheaper than the outgoing Mk6 Golf which today kicks off at £16,425. CAR's been saying for some years that the new MQB architecture underpinning the new VW Golf, and indeed the rest of the VW Group's mid-sized cars from Seats to Skodas, would be cheaper to produce.

Porsche Boxster growing to make room for small two-seater, report says

The next-generation Porsche Boxster will get a longer wheelbase and measure nearly 173 inches long overall, British magazine Autocar says on its Web site. Why is the Boxster growing? To create room at the bottom of the Porsche lineup for a new two-seater based on the Volkswagen BlueSport concept shown at the Detroit auto show in 2009, the report says.