2012 Dodge Avenger Steering Wheel on 2040-parts.com

VW Race Touareg 3 (2011) first pictures

You might usually associate the Volkswagen Touareg with school-run mums whose furthest foray off-road is up the kerb and onto a wet field – this is something different, this is the new VW Race Touareg 3. That there is, and it’s the Race Touareg 2 that’s taken the chequered flag at the last two Dakar rallies, becoming the first diesel-powered winner in 2009. And after 2010’s 1-2-3 finish, the VW board decided it was onto a good thing and commissioned Volkswagen Motorsport to update its Touareg racer for the January 2011 race.

GM, Chrysler get cold shoulder from consumers, report says

General Motors and Chrysler clearly have an image problem. In a classic case of: "It's not me--it's you," fewer consumers are considering the two Detroit automakers in the wake of their pleas for government assistance and bankruptcy rumors. The share of buyers who would make a GM car their primary choice fell 12 percent, and the share of Chrysler intenders dropped by one third, according to a study released Thursday by CNW Research of Bandon, Ore.

Alfa Romeo Spider and next-gen Mazda MX-5 details

Details on the new Alfa Romeo Spider continue to come in. Alfa sources say the car will blend lightweight engineering and modern styling with an accessible chassis and power output around 170 hp. It will go on sale in late 2015, sources said.