Warn 80149 Gen Ii Trans4mer; Receiver on 2040-parts.com

Mercedes A45 AMG (2013) first pictures of new hot hatch

This is the Mercedes A45 AMG: the first time Merc’s in-house tuning arm has tried its hand at building a hot hatch. Packing 355bhp, all-wheel drive and a seven-speed dual-clutch paddleshift transmission, the A45 AMG will outpace a Porsche 911, but cost less than £40,000. It’s on UK sale from July 2013, but if you can’t wait that long, Merc’s baby barnstormer is appearing at the Geneva motor show from 5 March 2013.

Tips for saving fuel on road trips: What's real and what isn't

Gasoline costs are hovering near $4 a gallon this week, and drivers hitting the highway for the holiday weekend are looking for ways to save. In preparation for Memorial Day, the Consumer Federation of America has released a list of tips that will help you pinch pennies at the pump. Most of these are the same evergreen recommendations that pop up for every road-trip holiday, and some of them are getting a bit stale.

2014 Volkswagen Passat Sport to start at $27,295

The 2014 Volkswagen Passat Sport will start at $27,295 including destination when it goes on sale early next year. Compare that to the base S model, which starts in at $21,665, and the top-of-the-line SEL Premium sedan, which starts at $34,715. The Passat Sport will fall between the midlevel SE and range-topping SEL Premium trims.