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2012 Volkswagen Beetle to launch with Black Turbo edition

Volkswagen is borrowing a page from sister company Porsche and will turn to the color black to sex up the soon-to-arrive 2012 VW Beetle--and to draw attention to a preorder program launching this year. The Beetle Black Turbo edition follows in the lineage of Porsche 911s augmented with Black editions, and the VW will sticker for $25,720, including shipping. Power comes from a 2.0-liter four-cylinder rated at 200 hp and 207 lb-ft of torque, which is the same as the regular turbo Beetle--and VW's hot hatch, the GTI.

Subaru XV gets another price cut – down by £2300 across the XV range

The Subaru XV (pictured) gets a price cut of £2,300 across the range Over a year ago, Subaru launched the new XV in the UK with a starting point of £21,995, Which was decent value for an able Crossover/SUV. But by May of 2013, Subaru had decided there was room to play with the XV’s price – or at least on the 1.6 litre petrol version – and they announced a £1300 price drop for the entry-level petrol XV. But now, just six weeks later, Subaru has decided that the weakening Yen has given them more room to manoeuvre on price and have announced they’re cutting prices across the whole XV range by £2300 (which actually means £1,000 off the new price for the 1.6 litre petrol).

Tesla Model S first EV to earn high praise from Consumer Reports

Tesla Motors Inc.'s all-electric Model S sports car received the highest score in Consumer Reports' ratings -- a 99 out of 100 -- along with widespread plaudits from the magazine's automotive testing staff. The magazine said the $89,650 EV it tested "performed better, or just as well overall, as any other vehicle -- of any kind -- ever tested by Consumer Reports." The last vehicle to achieve a score of 99 in the magazine's testing was the Lexus LS 460L, which was tested in 2007. The Model S, which went on sale in 2012, also marks the first time any electric vehicle has earned a score that high, the magazine said Thursday.