VW Pickup concept (2008): first official photos

By Chris Chilton First Official Pictures 24 September 2008 18:00 He’s designed Alfa Romeos, Audis and even a Lamborghini but now Walter de'Silva has gone all humanitarian and designed a pick-up.  VW’s first small flatbed since the Mk1 Golf-based Caddy will take on trucks like the Toyota Hilux and Mitusbishi L200 when it goes on sale late in 2009. It is, but not for long. This thinly veiled concept, called simply Pickup Concept, has been designed as a search and rescue vehicle for coastguards but essentially this is what badge-conscious UK builders will be driving in 2009. The new Volkswagen corporate face with its monobrow top grille and wide mouth is likely to be carried over mostly unchanged to the cars that will roll off the South African production line, as will the surprisingly stylish interior which features hooded instruments and Audi TT-style air vents. Mechanical details are sketchy but Volkswagen claims that engines will be common-rail diesels which rules out the old-tech 2.5 five pot that powers many of VW’s current commercials.

BMW X3 xDrive 18d launched

BMW has introduced a new entry-level X3 - the BMW X3 xDrive 18d [ad#ad-1] I really can’t make my mind up about the BMW X3. It has certainly sold in decent numbers (500,000+), so it must strike a chord somewhere with the great car buying public. But I just don’t get it.

Transport recovering after storm

ROAD NETWORKS are slowly getting back to normal after a day of commuter chaos caused by the hurricane-force winds that whipped across the country. All forms of transport were hit by the storm, with the disruption causing morning rush-hour misery to millions. Many roads were impassable due to fallen trees and high winds, with major routes beset by long delays.