Tank Straps Contour, Mystique Platinum# St173 on 2040-parts.com

VW reveals plug-in diesel hybrid concept, claims 261 mpg

Volkswagen has used a car show in the Middle East nation of Qatar to unveil a two-seat plug-in hybrid concept car that the automaker says will deliver 261 mpg. The VW XL1 uses a lithium-ion battery pack, an electric motor and a two-cylinder, 0.8-liter diesel engine for the powertrain. We're still digesting the press release, but here are some highlights: -- VW says the XL1 can travel about 22 miles on electricity from the battery pack.

Lexus CT 200h F Sport revealed

Lexus CT 200h F-Sport - almost as sport as the LFA in the background Just as we’re getting used to the idea that the Lexus CT 200h might not be quite as bad as we thought – although we are still appalled by the ‘eggs in a basket’ mentality of offering just a hybrid – along comes a model that shouts oxymoron – the Lexus CT 200h F Sport. In an effort to appeal to those who want make a ‘Sporty’ statement, Lexus has decided that there should be an F Sport version of the hybrid-only CT 200h. Lexus are keen to point  out that the CT 200h F Sport “…receives a number of visual and performance enhancements in keeping with Lexus’ F Sport model line-up”.

Volkswagen mulls new Phaeton for the US market

Volkswagen is giving some serious thought to bringing back the Phaeton sedan to the U.S., Automotive News reports. We haven't seen the Phaeton since 2006, when it was withdrawn from the North American market after lackluster sales. Built at the same factory as the much more expensive Bentley Continental GT and sharing much of the underlying mechanicals, the Volkswagen Phaeton managed to be a slower seller in the U.S.