1986 87 Kawasaki Tecate Kxt 250 Nos Maier Front # Plate Fender Plastic Racing on 2040-parts.com

VW to intro Passat BlueMotion Concept at Detroit auto show

While performance heads are anxiously awaiting the North American debut of the hot-heat Mk VII Golf R at the Detroit auto show, Volkswagen's Passat BlueMotion Concept offers never-before technology in the Yank/Canuck family sedan segment: a four-pot motor with cylinder deactivation. Based on the EA211 1.4L turbo motor we sampled last year in the Euro-market Audi A3 sedan, the Passat BlueMotion Concept's engine is capable of shutting down the middle two cylinders during cruise, and features the Jetta Hybrid's gearbox, a twin-clutch unit capable of decoupling from the engine during off-throttle coasting. In the Passat's application, the 1.4 puts out 150 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque; VW suggests its highway fuel economy will stand at 42 mpg.

Video: Track-day fun in the Lexus LFA

As promised, the third installment in our supercar video extravaganza--after the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 and the Porsche GT2 RS--gives you the lowdown on the hyperexotic Lexus LFA and its insane 552-hp V10 powerplant. Best described by senior editor for motorsports Mac Morrison as "shrieking like a melting witch," the Lexus LFA emits a wail unlike anything this side of a Formula One racer, and its performance isn't too far off that mark, either. Check out the walk-around and some on-track fun, then come back for the VBox lap on Friday.

Volkswagen to buy 42 percent of Porsche, full merger planned

Volkswagen will buy 42 percent of Porsche's sports-car business en route to a full merger by the end of 2011, the companies announced Thursday. VW will pay $4.7 billion for its initial stake in Porsche. It positions the new company to have 10 brands and global sales of 6.4 million, and Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn is likely to lead the entity.