Arias Pistons 12.5:1 Compression 82mm Bore Honda B-series on 2040-parts.com

Volkswagen launches Car-Net in-car assistance system

Volkswagen has launched an in-car assistance system which will offer a number of convenience and diagnostic features. Not too dissimilar from some other systems already on the market -- such as BMW Assist, Mercedes-Benz'sMbrace, and GM's On-Star -- VW's system will offer roadside assistance, service appointment scheduling, and automatic crash notification. The latter triggers a call from the vehicle to a Car-Net customer specialist when the airbags in the car are deployed, which will then connect the occupants with a local public safety answering point, which can send emergency vehicles to the scene if needed.

2014 Nissan Qashqai: The tease for the new Qashqai begins

The new Nissan Qashqai is an important car for Nissan as it needs to keep the momentum going that the first Qashqai started as a real alternative to a small family hatch. And with just 10 days to go until the new Qashqai gets revealed, Nissan has started the tease with the single photo of the new Qashqai (above) lurking under a dust sheet. We’re expecting the new Qashqai to take strong styling cues from the new Nissan X-Trail revealed at Frankfurt, and much of what underpins the new Qashqai is similar to the new X-Trail.

Autoweek contributor Patrick Paternie dead at age 65

Longtime Autoweek contributor Patrick C. Paternie, who shared his love of cars with readers for 12 years at this publication and for 25 years with other magazines and in his many books, died on March 10 at age 65. Paternie had just finished a race in his Porsche 911 at Willow Springs and pulled into his pit area when he suffered a heart attack.