05-08 Mercedes Slk/e Class Control Arm on 2040-parts.com

CAFE standard set at 54.5 mpg by 2025

The final version of the new corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standard was released today and, as expected, automakers will need to attain a fleet average of 54.5 mpg by 2025. The rules include electric and hybrid vehicles and—as of today—natural gas vehicles. The Environmental Protection Agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration proposed the rules in November, after reaching an agreement with automakers last July.

Volkswagen Beetle Dune IS going in to production – expect it in 2016

The VW Beetle Dune (above) will hit showrooms in 2016 Volkswagen went back to its Beetle history with the VW Beetle Dune Concept at Detroit in January, a car that looked close to production-ready even if VW were adamant it was just a concept. There was no more new on the Beetle Dune until late last month when, for no apparent reason, a raft of new photos of the Beetle Dune were released by Volkswagen with the only rationale being they had made the decision to make the Dune a production car. And they have.

New VW Golf GTI: Price from £25,845

Volkswagen has revealed that the 2013 Golf GTI MK 7 will cost from £25,845 – £195 up on the old GTI – with the GTi Performance from £26,825. For the first time you’ll get a choice of power levels for the GTI, with the regular GTI getting a 2.0 litre TSI with 217bhp and the GTI Performance coming with 227bhp, gets bigger brake discs and a limited slip diff. Performance from the regular GTI is 0-62mph in 6.5 seconds and a top speed of 152mph, whilst the GTI Performance cuts that time by 0.1 seconds with both versions offering 44.1mpg official consumption with the six-speed manual ‘box.