Ford Flathead Engine Head Bolts (nice) on 2040-parts.com

Alfa Romeo 4C convertible likely for 2015

Conventional wisdom holds that if you want to take on Porsche's 911, you need a convertible variant. And although Alfa Romeo's often marched to the beat of a wonderfully idiosyncratic drummer, it sounds as if it's hewing to general sporting-car rules of thumb with the 4C. According to a report in Britain's Autocar, sources have confirmed that a 4C convertible will follow the launch of the coupe by about a year.

Mazda diesels on the way

Word at the New York auto show has Mazda bringing its Sky-D direct-injection diesel engines to the United States in 2012. The first Mazda oil-burner here will be a Mazda 6-size vehicle, said Mazda CEO Takashi Yamanouchi. He wouldn’t say exactly what car, though.

2012 VW Beetle revealed

2012 VW Beetle – it’s official Back to the future again with the reveal today – ahead of a debut at both New York and Shanghai – of the 2012 Volkswagen Beetle. Where do you go when you update a car that’s already a pastiche of an original? It seems VW’s answer is you don’t go anywhere, you just fiddle at the margins.