Hi-tech boxes go past million mark

Hi-tech boxes go past million mark

Volkswagen has built more than one million DSG gearboxes since they were introduced in 2003, with 400,000 made last year alone. Production of the dual-clutch transmission has been ramped up to 1,750 per day at the Kassel plant in Germany, meaning it will take only 18 months before the next million roll off the line.

Test day out for prize guy Geoff

Congratulations to Geoff Harvey from Leominster in Hereford and Worcester, the winner of our quiz in Issue 991! Geoff demonstrated incredible car knowledge by scoring 100 percent in our brainteaser. His prize is a day out with the Auto Express road testing team on a group test of his choice.

Brit cars top the fantasy league

What car would you buy with ?100,000? New research from online insurer swiftcover.com has shown that three-quarters of UK customers would choose a British marque. The survey of 832 people saw Aston Martin come out on top with 24 per cent of the vote, followed by Range Rover, Bentley and Rolls-Royce. Exotic Italian brands Ferrari and Lamborghini were left lagging in fifth and 10th places respectively.

Online sat-nav planners coming

Michelin is using its know-how to develop a new range of portable sat-navs. The ViaMichelin-Navigon branded units will go on sale from April. Features include the ability to plan a trip on the firm’s route finder website – viamichelin.com – and then export it to the device at the click of a button.

Teens in ‘virtual drink-driving’ trial

A pioneering scheme has been launched in north-east Scotland to deter teenagers from drink-driving. Police have been kitting out the kids with ‘beer goggles’ which distort their perception and balance. They then let them loose on Nintendo Wii computer driving games. This allows them to experience what driving under the influence of drink or drugs is like.