Plymouth V8, 1955, Rings, Partial Set, Std Size. 3/7/16 Bore. Item: 3916 on 2040-parts.com

Volkswagen hits back, weighs making a bid for Porsche

Volkswagen is considering an audacious reverse-takeover bid for its majority shareholder, Porsche, in a twist in the drawn-out struggle for control between the two German carmakers. The Volkswagen Group's supervisory board is said to be weighing the possibility of purchasing Porsche AG, in a move that would relieve its holding company, Porsche SE, of massive debt that industry analysts suggest the company may not be able to fund should the world's financial crisis drag on well into 2010--a scenario put forward this week by the International Monetary Fund. The secret plan emerged as shareholders were set to convene at Volkswagen's annual meeting on Thursday, and it comes after Porsche revealed that it is carrying some 9 billion euros ($11.73 billion) in debt, most of it owing to interest on loans taken out to purchase its 50.8 percent stake in VW.

McLaren Production Centre opened by PM David Cameron

Call me Dave at Woking with Ron, Jen & Lew The launch of McLaren Automotive and the McLaren MP4-12C has been a bit of a roller coaster ride for Ron Dennis and McLaren. The reviews of the MP4-12C were overwhelmingly positive – with a few small caveats – and the press, on the whole, loved that McLaren were taking on the might of Ferrari with a car that truly was its match. But there have been a few hiccups along the way.

New-car smell less toxic but not safe, Ecology Center says

The Ecology Center released its fourth consumer guide to toxic chemicals last week, and the news is better. The amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in new cars has decreased, but we still have a ways to go. VOCs in plastics and flame retardants have been linked to a variety of acute and long-term health concerns.