Callies Ultra Connecting Rods on 2040-parts.com

Future products: U.S. model is VW's big news

An ambitious plan to increase Volkswagen brand sales in the United States to 800,000 by 2018--up from 213,454 last year--begins with a mid-sized sedan to be built starting early next year in Chattanooga, Tenn. Later, the new factory will add the Polo small car or a mid-sized SUV--possibly both. Here is a rundown of VW's product plans through 2013.

New (2014) Mazda 3 revealed – no prices yet

The new Mazda3 (pictured) arrives – and it looks good. The Mazda3 is already a better car than its sales would suggest, and the all new Mazda3 looks to be even more competition for the Ford Focus and VW Golf than ever before. Perhaps the only complaint about the Mazda3′s design is that it looks a bit too much like a shrunken Mazda6, but that’s a bit like moaning the DB9 looks like the Vanquish (well, the Mazda3′s not that good looking, but it makes the point).

Barrichello wins for Brawn in Monza

Barrichello wins the Italian Grand Prix in Monza The Brawns trailed Hamilton, Raikkonen and Sutil in the first stage of the race with their one-stop strategy, but the dividends of that strategy paid off with the Brawn duo taking the lead after the second pit stops by McLaren, Ferrari and Force India. Hamilton, in the McLaren, had a good race, and was challenging Button for second place in the closing stages. But, having got to within a second of Button on the last lap, he crashed out – probably by trying a bit too hard.