1970s Vintage Volkswagen Part #113819661 Aircooled Type 1 Fresh Air Mixing Knob on 2040-parts.com

Tips for saving fuel on road trips: What's real and what isn't

Gasoline costs are hovering near $4 a gallon this week, and drivers hitting the highway for the holiday weekend are looking for ways to save. In preparation for Memorial Day, the Consumer Federation of America has released a list of tips that will help you pinch pennies at the pump. Most of these are the same evergreen recommendations that pop up for every road-trip holiday, and some of them are getting a bit stale.

GM plants solar field at Chevrolet Volt factory

Looking to put a charge in its eco-friendly image, General Motors is installing a 264,000-square-foot solar field at the Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant that builds the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid sedan. The solar field, being built in cooperation with utility DTE Energy, will generate 516 kilowatts. GM says that’s enough power to charge up 150 Volts every day for a year.

Mazda confirms new SkyActiv-D 1.5 litre diesel engine for next Mazda2

The next Mazda2, previewed by the Hazumi Concept (pictured) gets a new SKYACTIV 1.5 diesel The Geneva Motor Show this year saw the arrival of the Mazda Hazumi Concept which was the first view of the next generation Mazda2, due to arrive in early 2015. What the Geneva Show also revealed from Mazda was the new SkyActiv-D 1.5 litre diesel engine which is heading for deployment in Mazda’s cars, and now Mazda has confirmed the next Mazda2 will be offered with the new clean and fugal diesel. Similar to the 2.2 litre diesel already available in the Mazda 6 and Mazda 3, the new 1.5 litre offers 103bhp and 185lb/ft of torque and features a bigger homogenous lean burn range, less mechanical resistance and new insulation to improve cooling and efficiency.