Bravo 3 Outdrive on 2040-parts.com

Cost of garage labour falling

THE AVERAGE labour rate at both franchised and non-franchised garages has fallen compared to 2012, according to new figures. An annual survey of 12,000 cases conducted on behalf of Warranty Direct has concluded that the average labour rate in 2013 is £74.70, a fall of 9.84% from £82.86 in 2012. Less encouraging is the overall trend of rising labour rates, with the average having increased by 33% over the last ten years.

2015 Volkswagen Passat – the 10 things you need to know

What will the 2015 Volkswagen Passat look like? Well, VW has teased us with a set of pictures and various technical details of the all-new Passat, which will go on sale next year. Demand for traditional family saloons has fallen dramatically in recent years, but  Volkswagen is going after that section of the car-buying market – as well as the BMW 3 Series  and the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class – with its new 2015 Passat.

Buy a hydrogen-powered car in 2015…at least in California

At the Consumers Electronics Show this week Toyota claimed that a production version of its four-door midsize FCV concept fuel cell sedan will hit showrooms some time in 2015. Toyota has been investing in fuel-cell technology for the past 20 years, and since 2002 it has been testing and developing prototypes primarily in North America. Toyota claims that it has reduced the cost of producing a fuel-cell powertrain, and has estimated a 95 percent cost reduction in the powertrain and fuel tanks for the 2015 production model versus the 2002 prototype.