Fuel Injection Throttle Body Mounting Gasket Fel-pro 61322 on 2040-parts.com

Next-gen Passat to offer hybrid and twin-turbo power

VOLKSWAGEN is going even more upmarket with the all-new version of the Passat, which is due to hit showrooms later this year. Soon buyers will be able to include a plug-in hybrid and an all-new 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel among their forecourt options, as VW goes chasing after its sister company Audi. Weight-saving measures have chopped up to 85kg from the new kid on a like-for-like basis, which helps achieve VW's stated efficiency boosts of 20% versus equivalent outgoing Passats.

Audi RS7: 2013 Detroit Auto Show

The new Audi RS7 has been revealed at the Detroit Auto Show complete with the 552bhp 4.0 litre V8 from the new Audi RS6 Avant. With the same 552bhp 4.0 litre V8 the new RS6 Avant gets, the 2013 RS7  has permanent 4WD and can get to 62mph in the same blistering time as the RS6 Avant – 3.9 seconds – and on to a top speed of 155mph. That is unless you specify the Dynamic or Dynamic Plus package and then the RS7 can hit either 174mph or 189mph.

RCA Citroen/Exa Double Challenge project

Second year students at the Royal College of Art in London revealed a series of projects at their interim degree show last week. Developed in collaboration with French automaker Citroen and the Exa Corporation, a leading supplier of aerodynamic software, the Double Challenge project asked students to design an ultra-compact model that could establish a unique Citroën e-vehicle aesthetic for the future, all while adhering to certain aerodynamic criteria that would not only reduce energy consumption and ensure stability at speed, but also visually communicate efficiency through its design. The project, which kicked off in October last year, was closely followed by representatives from Citroen and Exa, who examined each of the projects and chose a winner, Heikki Juvonen, at the event last week.