Decal-mastercraft Mediterranean Blue A Only (7502008) on 2040-parts.com

Theory driving test cost to be cut

THE COST of the written part of the driving test is to be reduced, the Government has announced. Under Government plans, which are now out for consultation, the cost of sitting the theory section of the test will be reduced from £31 to £25 from October 2014, with a further drop of drop of £2 planned in October 2015. The proposals could save learner drivers in excess of £100 million over the next nine years.

Bentley Mulsanne Speed heading for 2014 Paris Motor Show – and maybe a Bentley Mulsanne Coupe

It looks like the Bentley Mulsanne Speed is on the way, and maybe a Mulsanne Coupe too? Even the very top end car makers are finding that buyers are willing to pay more for more driver-focused versions of the their cars, with even Rolls Royce churning out the Wraith- a Ghost Coupe –  to tempt buyers. And now it looks like Bentley are going to extend their Speed versions from the Continental range to the Mulsanne.

VW will build small run of XL1 plug-in hybrid

Volkswagen will begin production of its XL1 plug-in hybrid in two years. "We want to go into series production with this car starting in 2013," VW chairman Ferdinand Piech told Automotive News Europe on Tuesday at an event in Doha, Qatar, ahead of the 2011 Qatar auto show where VW unveiled an XL1 prototype. (a href="http://www.autoweek.com/article/20130221/GENEVA/130229972">Read the latest update here announcing the XL1 hybrid's Geneva Auto Show debut).