Harley Triumph Honda Red Tail Light Lens (a307) on 2040-parts.com

2012 Volkswagen Passat priced at $20,765

The all-new 2012 Volkswagen Passat, looking to be a big player in the highly competitive midsize segment and the first car to be built at a new Chattanooga, Tenn., assembly plant, will come to market this fall with a base sticker price of $19,995, plus $770 destination charge. The 2012 Passat will be sold with three powertrains and a variety of equipment levels. “The 2012 Passat is a true Volkswagen, offering German engineering, class-leading standard features and superior fuel economy, all for a remarkable value,” said Jonathan Browning, CEO of Volkswagen Group of America.

Record breaking Bluebird reunited with nose

WORLD LAND SPEED RECORD holder Sir Malcolm Campbell’s Bluebird CN7 car has been reunited with its original nose. The car’s original nose was damaged and then kept in Coventry since 1960, but it has now been brought back to the car that lives at the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu, Hampshire. Damaged during a World Land Speed Record attempt on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, USA, the nose of the car was sent back to Coventry for repairs and an updated design to help make the car more stable at very high speeds.

BMW's yearlong Mini E trial exposes infrastructure problems

Early next decade, BMW of North America plans to sell an electric "megacity car" as a subbrand of BMW, similar to the brand's M high-performance cars. But further details are skimpy. BMW already is preparing for that launch.