Jw Flexplate #93010, The Wheel on 2040-parts.com

Travis Pastrana canes the Global RallyCross Dodge Dart: Video

While Erik Carlsson showed the world that lunacy had an appropriate place in rallying—they didn't call him "Carlsson on the Roof" for nothing—it took Ken Block's marketing savvy and the paste-it-anywhere-and-watch ubiquity of YouTube to get a broad swath of American kids amped on the antic fun that can be had with an all-terrain compact car. In a bid to get that same group excited about the new Dodge Dart, Chrysler enlisted Travis Pastrana to pilot its Global RallyCross entry. And in a sort of low-budget, less-elaborate version of Block's wacky-upon-zany Gymkhana videos, Pastrana puts the Dart through its paces, losing the passenger-side rear corner of the bodywork in the process.

Ford Fiesta – Good. Fiesta advertising – not so good.

The billboard on a US Fiesta Display (click for bigger image) We have to hand it to Ford. They have handled the introduction of the Fiesta to the US market in a very clever, 21st century way. Their Fiesta Movement campaign paid big dividends and delivered a record level of awareness for a relatively unknown little car in the land of the V8 gas guzzler.

Vauxhall Cascada: Price from £23,995

The Vauxhall Cascada – Vauxhall’s new four-seat convertible – will cost from £23,995 and arrives in Vauxhall showrooms in April 2013. Starting at £23,995 for the Cascada SE with the 1.4 litre petrol and rising to £29,115 for the Cascada Elite with a 2.0 litre diesel and auto ‘box, the Cascada certainly offers a lot of full-size convertible for the money. There are just two trim levels available – Cascada SE and Cascada Elite – with the SE coming with 18″ alloys, LED tail lights, DAB, rear parking sensors and USB, The Elite adds in stuff like leather, heated seats, Climate and steering wheel and fog lights.