Differential Gear Set (front) - Crown# J0926544 on 2040-parts.com

VW and Chinese ‘in talks to buy Vauxhall/Opel’ from GM

GM is considering selling its loss-making European operations, it emerged tonight. If it goes ahead and severs ties with GM Europe, the General would cede control of Vauxhall and Opel, the second biggest car brand in the UK.And in another extraordinary twist, CAR has confirmed that top-level talks have been taking place between Volkswagen and the German government, which is keen to avoid Opel falling into foreign hands. Chinese car makers are circling but Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has close connections to Volkswagen chief Martin Winterkorn, would prefer VW to step up to the plate as a potential buyer than a Chinese brand.

New VW Golf MK 7 goes on sale

The 2013 Volkswagen Golf – the Golf Mk 7 – is now on sale in the UK just weeks after its official debut at the 2012 Paris Motor Show. Volkswagen has put the new Golf – the MK 7 version of the best-selling Golf – on sale in the UK already, with first customer cars due to arrive in January 2013 – although the range is still limited. On offer to order now in the UK is the Golf S, Golf SE and Golf GT, but if you want the new Golf GTI – or a BlueMotion of 4Motion Golf  Mk 7 – you’re going to have to wait until well in to 2013 to be able to place your order.

Audi dealers ‘told lies’ about safety ratings

Audi A BBC investigation has found that Audi dealers lied about the safety ratings of some of the German brand’s models. The Watchdog programme sent undercover researchers into a number of dealers to ask about EuroNCAP ratings. 90% of staff lied about the Audi A5’s crash rating They found that nine out of 10 said that the Audi A5 had been rated by NCAP, with six out of 10 saying it had been awarded a maximum five stars in the crash tests.