Pitch Servo, 1c3736719, 1c373-6-719, Fresh 8130 8/15 on 2040-parts.com

VW Polo GTI (2010): first news and photos

Volkswagen has just issued these first photos of the new 2010 Polo GTI. It uses the 1.4-litre TSI engine with turbo- and supercharging to liberate a stocky 178bhp – enough to make the Polo GTI into a proper little pocket rocket.The first hot Polo was the supercharged G40 of 1986, but that developed a relatively weedy 112bhp. The new 2010-spec Volkswagen Polo GTI is powerful enough to hit 62mph in 6.9sec and reach a 142mph V-max.

New Subaru Impreza finally goes on sale in the UK – price from £17,495

The new Subaru Impreza Hatch (pictured) goes on sale in May It’s a bit hard to call the Subara Impreza the ‘new’ Impreza when it’s already three years since it was revealed and more than two years since it went on sale in Japan and the US. But the latest Subaru Impreza is new for the UK as Subaru has decided the Yen has weakened enough since the Impreza’s launch to make it a viable option to import it. Even so, it is a bit of a Hobson’s choice for buyers with just the Impreza Hatch – not the saloon – on offer and only in a single trim level and with a single engine option – the 1.6 litre petrol Boxer engine.

Where did the word 'automobile' come from?

On Jan. 3, 1899, the New York Times printed the word "automobile" upon its austere pages. It wasn't the first publication to do so; Scientific American used the phrase "automobile carriage" in a May 14, 1898, review of the Winton Motor Carriage, but the Grey Lady -- a more influential publication -- was the first to debate the term.