2001 Volkswagen Passat Automatic Transmission 2275275 on 2040-parts.com

Audi A2 planned for 2013

The original Audi A2. Audi are planning a new A2 for 2013 based on the A1 Well you didn’t really think that the kings of the car-niche would ignore the number 2 for ever did you? Despite the less than universal praise the original Audi A2 attracted (and, by Audi’s standards, miserable sales volume) they were always going to slip an A2 in to the mix somewhere.

Nissan creates a self-cleaning Note – and this one’s for real. (video)

The Nissan Note that cleans itself The Sunday chore of cleaning the car is beloved (and loathed, in equal measure) by those who’d rather do it themselves than pay a man with a bucket, a sponge and a chamois  to oblige. But regular car washing – for anyone – could be a thing of the past thanks to a new nano-paint technology. The newly developed super-hydrophobic and oleophobic paint manages to repel water and oil, which means stuff like everyday dirt, mud and rain don’t have the chance to cling to the car’s paintwork.

White House pushes for Friday deal on fuel-economy regulations

The White House wants to announce as early as Friday that it has reached agreement with most automakers on a plan to raise corporate average fuel economy targets to 54.5 mpg by 2025, manufacturers' representatives said Wednesday. While no automakers have signed on to the Obama administration plan yet, most--including Ford, Toyota, General Motors and Chrysler--are generally supportive and intend to do so, the industry officials said. Each manufacturer is trying to iron out technical issues with the White House before endorsing the proposal.