Subaru Impreza 1996 Assistant Seat [0270600] on 2040-parts.com

VW’s big jump in profits shows the cost for ‘Premium’ badges

Volkswagen’s profits jumped by £5.7 billion to £25.5 billion with sales numbers up by one million. But the big profits come from ‘Premium’ badges. What’s in a name?

Approved mechanics essential for quality service

DRIVERS need to make sure their car is being properly serviced by a qualified mechanic, says the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI). To help drives do this, it has launched a government-backed scheme called the Professional Register. While there are around 175,000 people in the UK who call themselves automotive technicians, the IMI says it can only recommend around 27,000 as having the required skills and competence to carry out work to the required standard in their specialism.

Volvo commits to plug-in diesel hybrids in 2012

By Tim Pollard Motor Industry 24 September 2009 16:53 Volvo will launch its first hybrid production cars in two years' time. The 2012 replacement for the V70 - which won't necessarily be a conventional estate - will have a premium range-topper powered by a plug-in diesel-electric powertrain. CAR's out in Sweden trying out the tech and today we drove a prototype for the new electric Volvo green car.