VW Passat Alltrack 4motion (2012) goes on sale

Volkswagen is launching its own cut-price rival to those mud-loving Allroad models from Audi in May 2012 – the new Passat Alltrack 4motion. It's a Passat estate in a Barbour and green wellies, its ride height hoiked up and with 4motion all-wheel drive boosting traction for soft-roading and pulling horseboxes over slippery grass. VW quotes a two-tonne towing capacity – 200kg greater than an equivalent Passat estate.

EBay exotic: 1991 Aston Martin Virage

Here we have what could best be described as a transitional model for Aston Martin. The Virage in 1989 replaced Newport-Pagnell's ancient Aston Martin V8 models, which themselves were replacements for the ancient DB series. However, it's still a hand-built Aston much in the mold of earlier models.

Christopher Reitz joins Riversimple

Former Alfa Romeo Director of Design, Christopher Reitz, has joined the UK-based open-source car company, Riversimple. In a statement on Riversimple's website, Reitz said: "This really is a step into something different, to design cars that really are the future. Increasingly I have felt that it does not make much sense to move tons of steel around, using a lot of fuel and resources.