1958-1960 Rambler American Hood Ornament on 2040-parts.com

Detroit convention center to get upgrades for auto show

For now, the Motor City will retain its spot on the calendar of international auto shows, as plans to upgrade the aging convention center where it's held annually will move forward. A $300 million deal to renovate and expand the nearly 50-year-old Cobo Center in Detroit is set to proceed after an Aug. 1 deadline to scuttle the plan passed without opposition from local officials.

Next-gen Passat to offer hybrid and twin-turbo power

VOLKSWAGEN is going even more upmarket with the all-new version of the Passat, which is due to hit showrooms later this year. Soon buyers will be able to include a plug-in hybrid and an all-new 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel among their forecourt options, as VW goes chasing after its sister company Audi. Weight-saving measures have chopped up to 85kg from the new kid on a like-for-like basis, which helps achieve VW's stated efficiency boosts of 20% versus equivalent outgoing Passats.

Vauxhall VXR8 gets new V8

By Ben Pulman First Official Pictures 06 May 2008 10:06 Vauxhall’s VXR8 is getting a new V8. The latest bent eight – designated LS3 – gains an extra 195cc to take power up to 425bhp. The 6.2-litre V8 is same engine that has also found its way into the revised Corvette and Pontiac’s version of the VXR8, the G8.