John Deere Snowmobile Cylinder Head Pair on 2040-parts.com

Saab on the road to independence

You’ve got to feel for Scandinavian car makers Saab and Volvo. Both swallowed up by big US car makers, and both now being abandoned in a vulnerable position after years of integrating their once independent products in to their parents infrastructure, they must wake up every day wondering if this is the day it all goes bang. Ford is simply trying (increasingly desperately) to off-load Volvo, but GM, which is in a much more precarious position than Ford, has now abandoned its Swedish child in a desperate attempt to appease Congress and survive.

Driven: BMW X3

The BMW X3 had the premium CUV market to itself when launched in 2004. Skip forward to the launch of the second generation and not only does the new version have a whole host of competitors for company, it also has to fit around its X1, X5 and X6 siblings. We took the 2011 BMW X3 (known internally as F25) to the Austrian Tyrol and spoke to its exterior designer, Erik Goplen, to find out if it still has the segment covered.

Frugal new entry-level Audi Q3 1.4 TFSI

Audi has launched a new entry-level Q3 1.4 TFSI, available with front-wheel drive only. It’s billed as an alternative to the Audi Q3 2.0 TDI, and so potent is the turbocharged petrol engine, it shouldn’t be seen as a poor relation. On Bing: see pictures of the Audi Q3 Find out how much a used Audi Q3 costs on Auto Trader The Q3 1.4 TFSI develops 150hp between 5,000 and 6,000rpm, and maximum of torque of 184lb ft from 1,750 to 3,000rpm.