New Dii Vacuum Gauge, D-g36 on 2040-parts.com

How VW's XL1 will make your next Golf lighter, faster and more frugal

VW will only build 250 examples of the XL1, its super-streamlined two-seater than scores a combined 314mpg thanks to its plug-in hybrid diesel engine, lightweight construction and low-drag design. Each punter will have to put up around €100,000 for the privilege of saving money on fuel – but don’t worry, because every car across the VW Group will benefit from the lessons learned, all by 2020. Is my next VW likely to be a hybrid?

Ferrari 599 HTGE China Limited Edition

The Ferrari 599 HTGE China Limited Edition But time they are a changin’ (thank you Mr D.), and China has become a big market for purveyors of luxury goods, none more so than Ferrari. So sticking together a Limited Edition Ferrari for the Chinese market is an eminently sensible move for Ferrari, even if the dozen models of the China Limited Edition will be a mere drop in the ocean in a country which boasts a population of 1.3 billion and still rising. So it seems a reasonable bet that Ferrari will have no trouble selling the China 599 to the extremely wealthy who now sit at the top of China’s financial pecking order.

Audi buys Ducati. Trophy or shrewd investment?

Audi buy Ducati It’s been confirmed that Audi is to buy Ducati, the Italian Super Bike maker, for an undisclosed sum thought to be around £700 million. Last month we reported that Audi has entered in to an exclusive agreement to buy Ducati, pipping Mercedes to the trophy super bike maker and adding a trophy to its cabinet. And the deal is now done.