March Performance Chevy Small Block Serpentine Drive Kit 20451 on 2040-parts.com

2012 Volkswagen Beetle to launch with Black Turbo edition

Volkswagen is borrowing a page from sister company Porsche and will turn to the color black to sex up the soon-to-arrive 2012 VW Beetle--and to draw attention to a preorder program launching this year. The Beetle Black Turbo edition follows in the lineage of Porsche 911s augmented with Black editions, and the VW will sticker for $25,720, including shipping. Power comes from a 2.0-liter four-cylinder rated at 200 hp and 207 lb-ft of torque, which is the same as the regular turbo Beetle--and VW's hot hatch, the GTI.

Cut and shut: Ford builds Mustang on Empire State Building

The iconic Ford Mustang is 50 years old in 2014, and to celebrate Ford will be officially selling it in Europe for the first time ever. But in logistics terms, that’s nothing compared to this stunt: timed to coincide with the 2014 New York Motor Show, Ford has parked a new Mustang convertible on the observation deck of the Empire State Building. Not impressed?

Concept Car of the Week: Renault Racoon (1992)

As far as wacky concepts go, the Racoon surely has to be up there with the best of them. Designed and engineered like no other car before, the off-road and amphibious capabilities of the Racoon stretched automobile versatility to new levels. With its big eyes and smiley face, it has the same happy expression as its sister, the Twingo.