Quicksilver/mercury Thermostat 75692 on 2040-parts.com

New, Cleaner Diesel For Sporty Astra GTC Coupe

KEEN to boost availability of its new, greener diesel engine, Vauxhall has fitted it’s ‘whisper’ 1.6-litre motor to its rakish three-door Astra GTC. The coupe bodied Astra joins the five-door and estate Sports Tourer models, and it boasts numbers that should appeal to tax-savvy company car drivers as well as private buyers seeking to save some cash. The engine replaces the 1.7 CDTi, providing 136 horsepower - a slight increase on the outgoing unit- delivered through an improved six-speed manual transmission.

Earle stays with Monterey Historics for another year

Maybe the 2010 Historics won't be so different after all. Last week, the day after the Monterey Historics concluded, founder and producer Steve Earle announced that he and his company, General Racing, would no longer be producing that well-loved event. But on Thursday, in an interesting change, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca announced that Earle will be one of five selection-committee members planning next year's Monterey Historics race.

Government plans to cut the cost of motoring explained

Freeborn Group The government has today announced measures it says will drive down the cost of running a car. But will motorists notice a difference, or will it just be a drop in the ocean? Here, MSN Cars runs through the key changes announced today, and explains how they will affect you.