1994 Seadoo Xp 657x Westcoast Performance Bep-7500 Cylinder Head 657 X on 2040-parts.com

(Gas) Tax Day: How much are you paying?

Today is April 18, also known as Tax Day in the United States. Since we're car enthusiasts and not accountants, we decided to ignore the half-finished 1040 on the kitchen table and take a look at a tax that means a lot more to us--the gas tax. The gas tax is the portion of every gallon that pays for road maintenance and other transportation projects.

2014 Volkswagen Passat Sport to start at $27,295

The 2014 Volkswagen Passat Sport will start at $27,295 including destination when it goes on sale early next year. Compare that to the base S model, which starts in at $21,665, and the top-of-the-line SEL Premium sedan, which starts at $34,715. The Passat Sport will fall between the midlevel SE and range-topping SEL Premium trims.

Mazda to use regen brakes to boost fuel economy 5 to 10 percent

Mazda is adding a fuel-saving technology that harnesses wasted brake energy in the redesigned Mazda6 sedan due early next year. The approach uses regenerative braking to convert kinetic energy into electricity that is stored in a capacitor. The car later taps that capacitor to power the fuel pump, lights, audio, air conditioning and transmission and engine control systems.