Volkswagen Jetta Speedometer Cluster; (cluster), Vin M 8th Digit, 2.8l (6 Cyl) on 2040-parts.com

Pace cadets: At AMG academy, students take their finals with their right feet

Mercedes-Benz USA launched the AMG Challenge in 2002, a program touted as "a chance to experience the thrill of driving the newest Mercedes AMGs on some of America's best racetracks." This year, MBUSA abandoned the Challenge in favor of the AMG Driving Academy, a multistage driver-development program pioneered by AMG in Europe. The difference? According to Greg Clark, AMG manager, "the Challenge was more about the cars, while the Academy is more about the driver." Having participated in both the Challenge and now the Academy, we'd say that difference is subtle, at least as it applies to the one-day program.

Jaguar XF Sportbrake: Official

The Jaguar XF Sportbrake finally arrives After months of teasing and spy shots the 2012 Jaguar XF Sportbrake is finally revealed ahead of its debut at the Geneva Motor Show next week. Jaguar has managed to get almost as much pre-launch publicity from the new Jaguar XF Sportbrake as they did from the year-long launch of the XJ. From ‘official’ spy shots to XF Sportbrake Christmas cards via their @sportbrake Twitter account, they certainly covered all the PR bases.

Lexus IS F ends production to make way for the new Lexus RC F

The Lexus IS F is no more The Lexus IS F was the car Lexus hoped would take the fight to cars like the BMW M3. But in the 7 years the IS F has been on sale it’s only managed to shift around 11,000 units, partly because it just didn’t have the dynamics or power of the M3, but also because few yet consider Lexus a ‘Performance’ brand. So the Lexus IS F has now ended production after a less than stellar sales showing, and Lexus are instead pinning their hopes for a credible M3 beater in the new RC F.