1971 Chevy 350 Motor Intake Manifold on 2040-parts.com

Four big pickups get low marks in crash tests

Four 2009 full-sized pickups got low marks in side-impact crash tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a research group for auto insurers. Crash protection is "poor" in crew-cab versions of the Chevrolet Silverado and Nissan Titan without side-impact airbags, according to test results the institute released on Wednesday. The Dodge Ram with standard side-impact airbags got only a "marginal" rating, the institute said.

Volkswagen prices limited-edition Beetle GSR

Volkswagen is bringing back the yellow-and-black Beetle GSR for 2014, more than 40 years after the “Yellow Black Racer” (Gelb Schwarzer Renner) debuted for the first time. That car had around 50 hp; the new one will eclipse that by just a little bit. On sale today, the Beetle GSR will use VW's turbocharged 2.0-liter TSI engine making 210 hp and 207 lb-ft of torque.

Audi Sport quattro laserlight concept heading for 2014 CES

Audi Sport quattro laserlight concept heading for 2014 CES The Consumer Electric Show (CES) in Las Vegas is rapidly turning in to a showcase for some of latest electronic gizmos on cars, and the 2014 Show will see a new version of the Audi Sport Quattro Concept complete with Laser Lights. The Sport Quattro comes with a pair of low-profile trapezoidal elements, with the outer one generating the more familiar matrix LEDs for low beam whilst the inner one laser light for high beam, which offers three times the luminosity of LED high beam and can light up the road for 500 metres ahead. Apart from the clever laser headlights, the Sport Quattro Concept seems to be the same as the one Audi revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show last year, apart from a new paint job in Plasma Red and the laser lights.