Standard Motor Products Fl6 Float on 2040-parts.com

New Skoda Octavia vRS hatch & estate revealed

The 2013 Skoda Octavia vRS has been revealed (vRS hatch pictured) The Skoda Octavia vRS – the latest version of Skoda’s quick and appealing take on the VW Golf GTI – has been unveiled ahead of its debut at the Goodwood FoS in July, and it looks a cracker. Available as either a hatchback or estate – and as a diesel or a petrol – the Octavia vRS manages to repackage the Golf GTI and Golf GTD in to one Skoda, offering good performance (the vRS is a bit slower than the GTI to 62mph at 6.8 seconds but has a 2mph higher top speed), good looks and the promise of prices starting not much above £20k. The petrol vRS gets the Golf GTI’s 217bhp 2.0 litre TSI and the diesel vRS the 181bhp 2.0 litre TFI from the Golf GTD, both with a 6-speed manual gearbox as standard and a six-speed DSG as option, sports suspension, XDS differential, quicker steering and multi-link rear suspension.

RAC Foundation – Road charging is inevitable

The RAC Foundation calls for Road Charging. According to RAC Foundation Director Stephen Glaister, a predicted 33% increase in traffic by 2025 and a reduction in road building schemes and cuts in general make a  pay as you go system the answer to congested roads. All of which is fine and dandy – it gives the RAC Foundation something to do and gets them a bit of PR – but it”s hardly joined-up thinking.

Audi RS5 spotted at the Nurburgring

The Audi RS5 caught testing at the Nurburgring this week. The Audi S5 is a cracking looking car. Stylish and understated, it carries a big enough stick to provide oodles of fun for most, but a real barn-stormer of car, with plenty of power would, even in these constrained times, be a winner.