Spx Corp. Pum Trans Protector J-38739-1, Nsn 3040014221297, Appears Unused on 2040-parts.com

Volkswagen Passat Alltrack: The VW Allroad arrives

The VW Passat Alltrack - debuts in Tokyo Volkswagen has jumped on to the Allroad bandwagon with its own take on Audi’s faux off-roader, with the reveal of the 2012 VW Passat Alltrack. As you would expect, the Passat Alltrack is a butched-up Passat Estate with a raised ride height, extra bits of plastic round the bumpers, skid plates, flared side sills and 4WD – VW’s 4MOTION – for more traction in boot sale car parks. But when you don’t need the 4WD, around 90 poer cent of the drive is through the front wheels – saving fuel – with the rear wheel drive only coming in to play when you start to slip and slide.

Honda CR-Z Mugen Concept at Goodwood FoS

Honda CR-Z Mugen Concept - FoS Debut We all know that Honda doesn’t really have its heart in the hybrid game, believing that hybrids are, at best, a stop-gap solution. But in the real world Honda can’t afford to ignore Toyota’s huge hybrid successes, so we got treated to the Honda Insight – a fairly woeful attempt at a hybrid. Next up from Honda was the CR-Z – which we were to believe would be spiritual successor to the CR-X – which did at least try to inject some fun in to the feeble hybrid setup with a manual ‘box.

One Lap of the Web: Cumberbatch on Hamilton and Blue Ovals that never were

-- The Internet's greatest man-crush of the moment, next to boyish rogue Tom Hiddleston, is the aristocratically named and occasionally cross-dressing Benedict Cumberbatch. But the "Sherlock" star (not "Doctor Who," as the un-nerdy announcers mistakenly trumpet) has a dark secret: he's actually a Formula One fan who interviewed Lewis Hamilton at the podium at Malaysia. Bonus points for Nico Rosberg chucking a mike around like it's a hacky sack.