2008 Volvo S40 Floor Center Console Gray 2523081 on 2040-parts.com

Boris planning war on diesel car drivers – London Mayor wants drivers of diesel cars to pay more

Boris wants to charge diesel cars an extra £10 to enter London We’ve long banged on about the nonsense of basing the cost of motoring on the Co2 emissions of cars, and it seems the London Mayor, Boris Johnson, also realises that Co2-based taxation has led to a real pollution problem. As we reported as far back as 2010, petrol cars – certainly before the introduction of Euro 6 emissions recently – are far cleaner than diesel cars when it comes to the sort of stuff that really matters – NoX and particulates. And the problem has been exacerbated by basing car taxation on Co2 emissions as lower Co2 levels have been much easier for car makers to achieve on diesel engines, which is why diesel-engined cars now account for around 50 per cent of all cars sold in the UK.

Mercedes GLA 45 AMG on video ahead of Detroit debut

Mercedes GLA 45 AMG (pictured) on video ahead of Detroit deut What promises to be the best performing car in the compact SUV/Crossover segment – the Mercedes GLA 45 AMG – was officially revealed this week ahead of its debut at the Detroit Auto Show. With the same 355 bhp, 2.0 litre turbo engine as the A 45 and CLA 45 AMG – and with 4WD – the GLA 45 AMG offers stunning performance in a high-riding compact shape that promises to embarrass all but the most extreme performance SUVs on the market. Now, ahead of next week’s debut, Mercedes AMG has released new video of the GLA 45 AMG which does a decent job of highlighting the cosmetic tweaks and purposeful stance the GLA has.

GM exec sees room for Subaru BRZ/Scion FR-S fighter

Chevrolet unveiled two stylish concepts at the 2012 Detroit auto show. One, the Tru 140S, was a bit of a poser -- its exotic looks belied its hypothetical low price point and its front-wheel-drive underpinnings. The boxy red Code 130R, on the other hand, had the potential to be dynamite.