Volkswagen cans Microbus plans

Volkswagen has dropped plans to produce its 21st-century Microbus/Kombi van, the successor to the classic hippie-mobile. Instead, the carmaker will turn to a new model based on a transport van. VW had originally intended to build a production version of the new Kombi conceptfor the American market. But the weaker US dollar and tougher economic conditions forced it to abandon the plan. It also means the 1500 extra jobs the project would have generated at VW's Hanover plant in Germany will not be available. VW launched the Kombi concept at the 2001 Detroit motor show. It was a huge hit. Said VW America vice-president Len Hunt of the decision: "If you look at the concept, it's a hugely emotional vehicle. That emotion is not going away. The Microbus itself went away."

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Toll scheme

The San Francisco Transportation Authority is looking at putting a toll zone in the city's central business district. It would be similar to London's, where drivers pay a toll each day to enter the zone. The aim is to ease traffic congestion and increase funding for the city's transport system. Under San Francisco city and California state laws, the money generated from a toll scheme has to be used for transport. If Auckland were to introduce such a zone, however, the money would inevitably find its way into the Government's consolidated fund and be used for research into knitting circles.

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Collection for auction

British auction house Bonhams is to sell a single-owner collection of nine commemorative hand-built Aston Martin V8 models. The collection, privately commissioned in 1987 for the 21st anniversary of V8 production in 1990, will be sold on June 4 at Aston Martin's HQ in Newport Pagnell. The nine models are all consecutively registered and finished in identical Hunter Green coachwork with tan leather upholstery, burr walnut veneer and dark green carpeting. Each car carries a card in the glovebox recording every occasion it has been used. For the past 10 years, the collection has been housed in a purpose-built, climate-controlled environment and every model is offered effectively "as new".

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Bentley leads charge

A vintage Bentley looks likely to lead the assault on Scandinavia in this year's Euroclassic car tour. Londoner Steven Collins is the owner of the 1928 4.5-litre Bentley, the oldest entry for the annual six-day rally. Among the cars lining up on the startline will be a 1952 Alvis, a 1954 Bentley R Type Continental, a clutch of Jaguar XK 150s as well as a number of Austin Healeys. This is the first time in the 13-year history of the Euroclassic, which starts in Aarhus, Denmark, on May 22, that the route takes the crews north to the land of the Vikings.

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We are the world

* Circleville, Ohio, police officer Troy Brungs, 35, is still on the job, despite being booked for drink-driving. The Columbus Dispatch says that over the past five years Brungs has had three suspensions, seven written reprimands, eight written orders for counselling, and three patrol-car crashes.

* The Texas Lewisville Leader reports that Fred Flintstone, 34, was arrested on charges of drug possession, driving while intoxicated, and driving without a licence.

* Land Transport NZ might like to file the following item for when it next looks at pedestrian laws: Sergio Segundo Ruiz, 60, was hospitalised in Juarez, Mexico, after being hit by a car while crossing a busy street. But police charged him with interfering with traffic and stationed an officer outside his hospital room. Ruiz was arrested after doctors discharged him.