96 Mirage Md322848 1.5 Computer on 2040-parts.com

Classified Catch: 1979 Dodge frog dystopia shag carpet molester van

From the bowels of the earth--California via Texas, in this case--comes one of the most wonderfully appalling automotive creations we've seen in quite some time. Feast your eyes on the Van. Originally birthed as a 1979 Dodge B200, this claimed 31,000-mile example boasts a two-barrel carb 318 bolted to the requisite Torqueflite automatic, Cragar mags and a CB for callin' out the smokeys.

Who's Where: Richard Ferlazzo appointed GM Australia design director

Richard Ferlazzo has been appointed General Motors Australia design director. Taking up the position from 1 September, he will report directly to executive director international operations design Michael Simcoe and also GM Holden chairman and managing director Mike Devereux. Ferlazzo will be responsible for Advanced, Production and Global Contract programs and replaces Andrew Smith who left Holden this month to take up the position of executive director of global Cadillac and Buick design at GM's technical center in Warren, Michigan.

Volkswagen shows off new 1.8-liter engine for Jetta, Passat, and Beetle

Volkswagen is rolling out a new 1.8-liter turbocharged and direct-injected TSI engine which will debut in the Jetta, Beetle, and Passat later this year. This thrifty new engine will replace the 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine now available in those models. But the 1.8-liter is no slouch: it produces the same 170 hp as the outgoing five-cylinder engine, while adding 7 lb-ft torque for a total of 184.