Peugeot 204 Rear Right Fender Berline Genuine-aile Arrière Gauche Peugeot 204 on 2040-parts.com

Volkswagen hits back, weighs making a bid for Porsche

Volkswagen is considering an audacious reverse-takeover bid for its majority shareholder, Porsche, in a twist in the drawn-out struggle for control between the two German carmakers. The Volkswagen Group's supervisory board is said to be weighing the possibility of purchasing Porsche AG, in a move that would relieve its holding company, Porsche SE, of massive debt that industry analysts suggest the company may not be able to fund should the world's financial crisis drag on well into 2010--a scenario put forward this week by the International Monetary Fund. The secret plan emerged as shareholders were set to convene at Volkswagen's annual meeting on Thursday, and it comes after Porsche revealed that it is carrying some 9 billion euros ($11.73 billion) in debt, most of it owing to interest on loans taken out to purchase its 50.8 percent stake in VW.

Audi to show rugged A4 allroad in Geneva

While Audi's A6 allroad quattro didn't resonate in North America and ultimately was discontinued after the 2005 model year, it did enjoy mild popularity in Europe and continues to be sold there. Now Audi plans to bolster the line with the addition of the A4 allroad quattro that's set to make its first public appearance at next month's Geneva motor show. Beginning with an A4 Avant, Audi improves its off-roading abilities by raising the ride height by 37 millimeters to 180 millimeters and widening the track in front and rear by 20 millimeters.

Rhonda Renaissance Part 2: Paint vs. vinyl

We dispensed with the basics in Part 1 on Monday: There's a 1963 Pontiac StarChief in the parking garage of Autoweek HQ. It needs of a new coat of something for the summer, so let's explore some of the options confronting today's refinish customers, where candy paint is no longer the only game in town. Let's start with vinyl wraps: We've seen them, felt them and picked at them at shows and in shops.