Mercury Mariner Gear Housing Assy 6053a23 on 2040-parts.com

VW plotting 'XR1' lightweight supercar

Volkswagen plans to create an ultralight, mid-engined sports car, with the pace of a base Porsche 911 but the fuel economy of a Golf TDI. It's codenamed 'XR1': read on for the full CAR scoop. What's the inspiration for the VW XR1?

European Parliament: electric cars must make noise

The European Parliament has voted in favour of a European Commission proposal to decrease the maximum allowed noise for new cars, vans, trucks, buses and coaches, in an effort to reduce “vehicle noise nuisance” by 25%. At the same time, the EU has voted in favour of a proposal to force carmakers to fit electric and hybrid electric vehicles with a sound generating device, to improve low speed safety for pedestrians and the visually impaired. On Bing: see pictures of electric cars Find out how much a used electric car costs on Auto Trader The proposed changes, which are expected to become law, would see new car noise levels reduced by four decibels, commercial vehicle noise levels reduced by three decibels.

Walt Arfons: 1916-2013

No one seemed to know why the two brothers stopped talking, but their resulting rivalry led to some of the fastest cars ever built, two of which went more than 600 mph. Walt Arfons battled his half-brother Art on the Bonneville Salt Flats and at dragstrips across the country, but the pair rarely spoke over the course of one of the longest and most intense motorsport rivalries ever. Walt and Art started out working together, building a three-wheeled dragster in their native rural Ohio in 1952.