Simrad J300x Autopilot Auto Pilot Computer on 2040-parts.com

BMW takes the Active Tourer Outdoor outdoors this weekend

This weekend BMW will be taking its BMW Concept Active Tourer Outdoor to the annual OutDoor fair in Friedrichshafen, Germany. We first saw the concept last September, noting that it was a departure for BMW in more ways than one -- with the German automaker stretching itself into segments in which it previously had no foothold. The BMW Active Tourer is meant to preview a whole new generation of small cars from BMW, but one of the biggest changes underneath is a transverse layout of the engine -- a setup that BMW has traditionally shunned in favor of a longitudinal layout.

Skoda Octavia & Skoda Superb go 4×4

The Skoda Octavia gets 4x4 and DSG 'box We had a shout out for Skoda and what they do to make VW product their own when we ran story the other day on the new advert for the Skoda vRS, which shows how individual and inspired Skoda now are. Most of the time, anyway. Not only are Skodas inspired and individual, they are also something of a bargain compared to their VW brethren.

Audi A3 E-tron coming to select U.S. markets

Audi confirmed on Monday that it will begin a pilot program for the battery-electric A3 E-tron in the United States. The announcement was made at the 2012 Technology, Entertainment and Design conference in Long Beach, Calif. The A3 E-tron is based on the successful Audi A3 hatchback.