1972 Volkswagen Beetle Base 1.6l on 2040-cars

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Former Porsche boss Wiedeking won't face criminal charges over VW bid

Hedge fund managers have been suing Porsche for years now, alleging that the car company lied about its intentions during its failed attempt to take over Volkswagen, a gambit that caused them billion in losses. Over the same period, authorities in Stuttgart built a criminal case against former CEO Wendelin Wiedeking (above, left) and Chief Financial Officer Holger Härter (right), filing charges in December 2012. When those fund plaintiffs lost their most recent court case, one of the dimming lights in the dark and receding tunnel was that the criminal investigation might unearth more evidence about Porsche's actions that could help the plaintiffs in pending litigation.
Bloomberg reports that another light has gone out, though, with a Stuttgart court dismissing the market manipulation case before going to trial because, as a court spokesperson said, "there wasn't enough evidence backing up the charges." When prosecutors get the files back from the court, they have a week to decide to refile, but unless they've been sandbagging evidence that could bolster the case, the only lights at the end of the tunnel will be those welcoming Wiedeking and Härter back to the world of legally unencumbered men.

VW Scirocco is the car nerd's classic car

Petrolicious undoubtedly makes some fantastic videos, but it often focuses on expensive, rare vehicles that many people might not be able to afford for their garage. This week the spotlight shifts to a modern coupe that's fairly accessible: the Volkswagen Scirocco. Owner Jason Cammisa is a senior editor at Road & Track, and his job puts him behind the wheel of some of the world's fastest supercars. Despite that, he has kept driving this 16-valve Scirocco that he has owned since college. The Scirocco is an easy car to love, though. Its simple, angular lines still look beautiful on the road today. While the four-cylinder engine doesn't make huge power, the coupe is nimble and ideal for a drive over twisty roads. Cammisa also makes an interesting point about owning affordable classics like this. Without a wealthy owner base like those that support vintage Corvettes or Porsches, there's little desire in the aftermarket to produce spare parts for his Scirocco. He worries about keeping the VW on the road decades into the future. For now, enjoy this '80s coupe thanks to this great clip from Petrolicious.

Submit your questions for Autoblog Podcast #299 LIVE!

We record Episode #299 of the Autoblog Podcast tonight, and you can drop us your questions and comments via our Q&A module below. Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes if you haven't already done so, and if you want to take it all in live, tune in to our UStream (audio only) channel at 10:00 PM Eastern tonight.
Discussion Topics for Autoblog Podcast Episode #299
2013 Honda Accord