Volkswagen Passat Engine Brain Box Electronic Control Module; 6 Cyl 96 on 2040-parts.com

CES: Mercedes-Benz boss talks technology

Mercedes-Benz boss Dieter Zetsche characteristically seemed to enjoy his status as a car guy amid the computer nerds at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show. “I just came from Detroit yesterday, where some people consider consumer electronics to be a mere accessory to the car, and now I am here at CES where some people think the car is a mere accessory to the consumer electronics,” he said in a keynote speech on Tuesday at the event. Zetsche introduced mbrace2, the second generation of the Mercedes-Benz mbrace (pronounced “embrace”) system.

Ferrari 599XX evolves with more power, less weight and a movable wing

Ferrari used the Bologna motor show to unveil an evolution of the 599XX sports berlinetta. It's an enhanced version of the 599 GTB Fiorano that is purely for track use--it stays with the company even after you buy it. You are invited to drive at track days, from which Ferrari uses telemetry, but you aren't allowed to put it in your garage.

VW to intro Passat BlueMotion Concept at Detroit auto show

While performance heads are anxiously awaiting the North American debut of the hot-heat Mk VII Golf R at the Detroit auto show, Volkswagen's Passat BlueMotion Concept offers never-before technology in the Yank/Canuck family sedan segment: a four-pot motor with cylinder deactivation. Based on the EA211 1.4L turbo motor we sampled last year in the Euro-market Audi A3 sedan, the Passat BlueMotion Concept's engine is capable of shutting down the middle two cylinders during cruise, and features the Jetta Hybrid's gearbox, a twin-clutch unit capable of decoupling from the engine during off-throttle coasting. In the Passat's application, the 1.4 puts out 150 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque; VW suggests its highway fuel economy will stand at 42 mpg.