Lowrance Suncover F/elite-9 Series -000-12240-001 on 2040-parts.com

Brazilian students develop soapbox racers for Volkswagen

Brazilian design students have competed for year-long internships at Volkswagen's Brazilian design studio by designing – and racing – soapbox cars. Established 15 years ago by Volkswagen South America design director Luiz Veiga, the Volkswagen Design Talent Contest refreshed its format for 2013 by challenging students to develop a prototype for a gravity-powered soapbox racer instead of asking for sketch and render-based proposals. According to Veiga, Volkswagen was looking for someone "capable of working away from the desk and able to create design solutions, assess and build them".

VW Golf GTD (2009) first pictures

By Chris Chilton First Official Pictures 27 March 2009 12:30 Volkswagen UK hasn’t even delivered its first new Golf GTi but is already showing us this: the GTD, its diesel alter ego. Powered by a 168bhp version of VW’s ubiquitous common rail 2.0-litre turbodiesel four it sprints to 62mph in just 8.1sec compared with 7.1sec for the 207bhp petrol GTi and its 136mph top speed falls 12mph short. But with 256lb ft of torque (the GTi makes do with 207lb ft) on hand, the diesel should have the upper hand in mid-range performance.

Troubled Nurburgring race track finds buyer

Rex The legendary Nurburgring race track in Germany is set to be bought out by a consortium led by private investment group HIG capital, it emerged on Friday. The circuit has been burdened with enormous debts, went into administration in 2012, and has been looking for a new owner since last spring. HIG’s move will hopefully allay fears of car enthusiasts around the world, who visit the historic 13-mile track in droves to test the limits of both their car’s handling and their own skill.