Goodyear 17714 V-belt/fan Belt-accessory Drive Belt on 2040-parts.com

Crackdown on bogus claims helps insurance costs fall by 12%

CAR INSURANCE premiums have plunged at a record rate of 12% year-on-year amid a tougher clampdown to combat bogus motor accident claims which add to the costs of everyone's policies. The typical quote for annual comprehensive car insurance cover was £568 in October, marking a 4.5% drop on July and a 12.4% fall on a year ago, according to the latest AA Insurance premium index, which takes the average of the five cheapest quotes on the market. This is the biggest annual slide that the AA has on its records, which go back to 1994, and marks a sharp turnaround for motorists following a period of strong increases, with premiums rising by more than 40% just two years ago.

Volkswagen preps the Golf EV for 2013 launch

Volkswagen AG has begun delivery of a second test fleet of Golf blue-e-motion EVs to customers in Germany, the automaker said in a statement. Of the 80 cars being tested in the fleet, 53 will be delivered in Berlin, with the rest going to Hannover and Wolfsburg. The vehicles will be distributed to businesses, public bodies and private motorists, although the majority of cars in Berlin will be tested by corporate customers, as VW views this group as the largest market for EVs in the future.

Greg Migliore: Behind the scenes at the Detroit auto show

Yes, that's a shot of Detroit. In January. Inside Cobo Hall.