Mercedes S500 1995 Left Headlight Oem on 2040-parts.com

Classic vs. Modern, Part One: Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 or 2012 Kia Rio SX

A recent 220-volt shock administered by the $23K-plus window sticker of a loaded Ford Fiesta rental car made me think about what the same dollars would buy in a classic car, and what the relative cost of ownership would be. My favorite matchup doesn't even require as much coin as said fully accessorized rental Fiesta. The 2012 Kia Rio SX carries an as-tested-by-Autoweek price of $20,745.

2013 VW Golf TDI BlueMotion Mk 7 costs from £20,335

Starting at £20,335 for the 3-door BlueMotion and rising to £20,990 for the 5-door, the new Golf also emits just 85g/km CO2 (which would have been enough for free London Congestion charging, but not any more) which is 15 per cent better than the previous Mk 6 TDI BlueMotion managed. VW has managed to tweak the Golf BlueMotion’s economy figures still further by reducing weight, fitting super low rolling resistance tyres (that run with higher pressure), longer gear ratios, stop-start and aerodynamic tweaks. Thos aerodynamic tweaks includes modifications to the front of the Golf to reduce drag by nearly 10 per cent, adding a roof spoiler, air guide elements on the back window, a masked front grill, smoother underfloor and a reduction of ride height by 15mm.

GM bets on new four-cylinder family in Europe; U.S. plans unclear

General Motors' European subsidiary, Opel, has revealed a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder direct-injection gasoline engine that will be offered from early 2013 across its lineup, starting with the soon-to-be-revealed Astra-based Cascada convertible. The aluminum block unit, the first in a new range of so-called SIDI (spark ignition direct injection) ECOTEC engines, forms the centerpiece of the company's downsizing strategy for displacement. The engine is claimed to have improved torque characteristics and a significant reduction in consumption compared with its predecessor.