2002 Vw New Beetle Sales Brochure on 2040-parts.com

Toyota drags down new-vehicle quality average; Ford leads Detroit 3 gains

Dragged down by Toyota Motor Corp., the quality of new cars and trucks sold in the United States slipped slightly this year--the first time since 2007, according to a study released Thursday. But Detroit's automakers--helped by Ford Motor Co. and some of the smoothest new-model launches ever--have matched or surpassed Asian and European rivals in initial vehicle quality for the first time, based on the closely watched J.D.

Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction, Day 2

Day two of the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction has ended, and our friends at Hagerty have the numbers for us. The top earner for the day was a resto-mod-style 1948 Chevrolet COE truck that sold for $97,900. After a two-year frame-off restoration, the COE got a rust-free California body applied to a late-model General Motors chassis.

Mercedes GLA Edition 1 announced

The Mercedes GLA Edition 1 (pictured) is a luanch edition for the new GLA SUV The new Mercedes GLA Compact SUV had its public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show last week, and is due to go on sale in November. But when it does go on sale, sales will start off with a limited run of GLA Edition 1 cars, just as Mercedes did with the CLA 45 AMG Edition 1, but in the case of the GLA you’ll be able to spec the Edition 1 pack on any GLA model. With a choice of four exterior colours - Cirrus White, Mountain Grey Metallic, Orient Brown Metallic and Designo Magno Mountingrau – the Edition 1 comes with 19″ AMG alloys, bi-xenons, aluminium roof rails, extra chrome, leather flat-bottomed steering wheel, comfort seats and splashes of aluminium trim and stainless steel pedals.