85 85.5 Porsche 944 Front Left Driver Side Brake Caliper on 2040-parts.com

Some Chevrolet dealerships halt Volt sales due to tool costs

Some Chevrolet dealers have stopped carrying the Volt after deciding that their sales didn't justify an additional $5,100 for tools to service the plug-in hybrid. Last month, General Motors notified Chevrolet dealers of the added cost for tools, among other requirements, to keep selling and servicing the Volt. The math didn't work for Allyn Barnard, owner of Jim Barnard Chevrolet in Churchville, N.Y., near Rochester.

BMW makes 1,000 workers permanent

AROUND 1,000 agency workers at car giant BMW are to be made permanent employees, guaranteeing job security for years. The change, being made in two phases, was warmly welcomed by the Unite union, describing it as a great Christmas present. The announcement covers workers across a number of BMW sites including the Mini plant in Oxford, pressings plant in Swindon and Hams Hall engine site near Birmingham.

2013 Volkswagen Passat R-Line & new 1.4 TSI arrive

The Volkswagen range is hugely successful and largely appealing, but it’s not always the most dynamic looking range of cars on offer. Which is why the R-Line option of fairly understated sporty add-ons is so popular and why VW is offering it on more and more of its range. Now we get the VW Passat R-Line treatment (just as we did with the old Passat) with a bespoke body kit offering more butch bumpers front and back – and cornering fogs in the front bumper – side skirts, 18″ Kansas alloys, spoiler at the back, lowered suspension, extra chrome, Bi-xenon headlights with LED running lights and privacy glass to give the Passat a much more appealing look.