1986 Kawasaki Js300 Cylinder on 2040-parts.com

Akio Toyoda named Toyota president amid global crisis

Akio Toyoda, scion of Toyota Motor Corp.'s founding family and now its next president, will bring a U.S. perspective to the automaker as it battles falling sales and an unprecedented financial crisis. Toyoda, 52, will succeed current President Katsuaki Watanabe in June, the company said Tuesday, ending weeks of speculation.

Rinspeed BamBoo concept (2011) at 2011 Geneva motor show

There’s no doubt the folk at Rinspeed like to think outside the box when it comes to concept cars – and the new BamBoo will evoke plenty of admiration when it makes its debut at the Geneva motor show in March 2011. Not for Swiss car visionary Frank Rinderknecht it isn't. He says every name has a meaning and in this case it's because many of the interior features are made from actual bamboo fibres.

Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid: Production to double to cope with demand

It’s particularly appealing if you like a car with a decent turn of speed – the V60 will do 0-62mph in 6.1 seconds – like the reassurance and practicality of 4WD – the V60′s electric motor drives the back wheels – drive in to London on a regular basis – the 48g/km emissions are congestion charge free – and get taxed as BIK from your company. If all those apply – and you already appreciate the Volvo V60 is a very good car to start with – then the V60 plug-in hybrid is a bit of a no-brainer, even with a headline price of nearly £50k (which gets within £6k of an equivalent non plug-in after the taxpayer has chipped in). It seems that many buyers agree, and Volvo is being inundated with orders.