Auto 7 Inc 922-0184 Shift Selector Cable on 2040-parts.com

Car Insurance ‘Black Box’ a good idea? We find out.

We’ve been testing a new ‘Telematics’ App from Confused.com which mimics the ‘Black Box’ technology insurers are offering in an attempt to make car insurance cheaper. The inexorable rise and rise of car insurance premiums is a fact of life, and will continue until government gets a handle on ambulance-chasing lawyers and the UK’s idiotic whiplash claims industry. But if you’re looking to find a way to cut your insurance premiums, then having a ‘Black ‘Box’ fitted to your car to monitor your driving so you get charged for how much – and how well – you drive looks a promising idea.

Shooting for the Scirocco

The prospects for a U.S. return of one of the ultimate enthusiast unicorns--the Volkswagen Scirocco--are looking better for two critical reasons: VW's American brass want it, and it will be based on the company's widely used global underpinnings. The latest generation of Scirocco launched in Europe in 2008, though U.S.

Volvo gives T6 engine the Polestar treatment

Just weeks after announcing its Polestar performance kits for the T5-engined cars, Volvo is now offering packages for the XC60, S60 and XC70 models fitted with its turbocharged six-cylinder engine. The T6 Polestar software package adds 25 hp and 30 lb-ft of torque, bringing totals to 325 hp and 355 lb-ft, respectively. Volvo says the added power won't result in greater fuel consumption, as the tuning of the engine only increases power when needed--though we'd imagine most drivers will feel the need often enough to significantly affect mileage.