05 Honda Trx450r Subframe on 2040-parts.com

Yearly driving costs rise 3.4 percent

This won't be a surprise to anyone--it's costing more to own and drive a car. Higher prices for fuel and tires, and a larger drop in the resale value of cars, pushed the average cost of owning a sedan to $8,776 a year, according to AAA of Heathrow, Fla. That's up 3.4 percent from a year ago.

Peugeot 308 R heading for production

It looks like the Peugeot 308 R (pictured) is heading for production With the Peugeot RCZ R managing to go from range-topping performance concept to production, it seemed likely Peugeot was aiming at producing a new range of performance cars. And it seems the next could be the Peugeot 308 R. Arriving at the Frankfurt Motor Show as a concept, the 308 R comes with a strange two-tone paint job (meant to evoke the Peugeot Onyx Concept), but with far more to offer than just a paint job that makes it look a different car at the back than the front.

Mazda refines lineup with SkyActiv technology

It turns out Mazda isn't simply shooting for the sky. Rather, the protagonists of zoom-zoom driving dynamics are taking an active approach to the brand's DNA: Put it all together, and it's called “SkyActiv.” Mazda is billing the suite of technologies as the pillars of its way forward. Much of these features--which enhance future products in nearly all areas including engine, transmission and chassis--have already been revealed.