Ducati V4 Superbike (render)

Ducati from the beleaguered post-Dieselgate Volkswagen Group - we shouldn’t forget that the really important news is the imminent arrival of their new V4 superbike. The likelihood is that we’ll see more like 205-210bhp in road trim, but over 230 bhp for race teams. With the Panigale R’s enormous 112mm pistons slapping away at 11,750 rpm (116 mm in the stocker, redlining at 10,500 rpm), the Superquadro is already at its outer limits for bore and rev ceiling harmony. More revs mean more power, and that’s far more achievable with multi-cylinder engines - but an inline four is too ordinary for Ducati, hence the move to a V4. All the indications suggest that we’ll get two engine versions across a three-bike range. The current R is 1198cc, while the base and S models are 1285 cc and we expect Ducati to continue this tried and tested route. Further still, this means that the new R model will have to cost less than 40,000 Euros to comply with World Superbike rulings. The race teams may force another significant point of difference, too. While all three test mules spied so far have featured the single-sided swingarm we’ve come to expect on Ducati’s flagship (ever since the massive 1098 climb-down in a post-999 world)- there’s a chance the R will boast a twin-spar item.

The Volkswagen Touran is the most successful German compact MPV and "the" consummate family vehicle. Exactly 1.13 million units of the Volkswagen Touran have been sold to date. In Germany, it currently holds a market share of nearly 50 percent in its segment and across Europe, the Volkswagen ranks among the top five in its class. At the Auto Mobil International in Leipzig (10 to 18 April), Volkswagen is now presenting a generation of the bestseller that has been redesigned in many areas. The look of the VW Touran now follows the updated Volkswagen "design DNA". Also new aboard the Volkswagen Touran is the innovative entry-level petrol engine, the 1.2-litre TSI. It is a turbocharged direct-injection engine with 105 PS. In the style of a turbodiesel, it develops a strong 175 Newton-metres of torque from just above idle speed, yet it consumes only 6.4 l/100 km fuel in combined mode (equivalent to 149 g/km CO2).

As an alternative, this variant is also available with BlueMotion Technology - together with the Start/Stop system and battery regeneration. In this case, values for combined fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are reduced to 5.9 l/100 km and 139 g/km, respectively. All eight engines (power range from 66 kW / 90 PS to 125 kW / 170 PS) are highly efficient. Without exception, they are turbocharged direct-injection engines, which follow the Volkswagen downsizing principle. And this means: less engine displacement, lower emissions, lower fuel consumption yet significantly more torque! Naturally, all new Tourans fulfil the requirements of the Euro-5 emissions standard. The range of features on the multi-purpose vehicle - equipped with up to 39 storage options - was reconfigured as well. The base model is now the Volkswagen Touran Trendline (previously Conceptline). Fuel consumption of the standard 1.2-litre TSI is frugal. Yet, the base model's standard features are anything but frugal; they include air conditioning, radio/CD system with MP3 function, electric windows in all four doors, elegant decorative inserts in "Brushed Chrome" and daytime running lights.

Now on the Volkswagen Touran for the first time is the new RNS 315 radio-navigation system with touchscreen. Other new optional features now available include: the enormous panoramic slide/vent sunroof, Rear-View camera (standard in conjunction with RNS 510 radio-navigation system) and the DCC dynamic chassis control system. Another new feature on the Volkswagen Touran is Light Assist - an automatic main beam control system for standard headlights, making them a "younger technological sister" of the Dynamic Light Assist developed for bi-xenon headlights. The VW Touran will launch in August 2010 in Germany; over the course of the autumn, it will gradually be introduced to markets across the globe. The range of engines - all turbocharged direct-injection four-cylinder units - should satisfy nearly all wishes. On the petrol side, three TSIs are being employed. As mentioned, the entry-level engine is the new 1.2-litre TSI with 77 kW / 105 PS. The two 1.4-litre TSI engines were adopted from the previous model; they have power outputs of 103 kW / 140 PS and 125 kW / 170 PS.