1997 Mercruiser 5.7 Liter 350 Valve Cover on 2040-parts.com

2014 Kia Forte sedan pricing set at $16,700

UPDATED: The base 2014 Kia Forte sedan will cost $16,700 including destination when it goes on sale next month, fitting slightly below its compact competitors. Kia is touting the 2014 Forte as the least expensive in its class, and the compact sedan does in fact cost $80 less than the redesigned 2013 Nissan Sentra at $16,780, $90 less than the new 2013 Dodge Dart at $16,790 and $225 less than the 2013 Ford Focus sedan at $16,995. The new price is a slight increase from the 2013 model, which cost $16,175 after shipping charges.

Aston Martin Virage (2011) at 2011 Geneva motor show

This is the new Aston Martin Virage, a V12-engined GT to sit halfway between the DB9 and the DBS. It will be officially unveiled to the public, along with the Aston Martin Vantage S, at the 2011 Geneva motor show next week. Numbers are easy to understand, so let’s start with the figures produced by the 6.0-litre V12 shared between the trio: the DB9 has 470bhp and 442lb ft, the DBS 510bhp and 420lb ft, and the Virage sits neatly between the two with 490bhp and 420lb ft.

Ford spoofs Cadillac ELR with latest ad

Rule Number One of advertising is, "kick 'em when they're down." Or was that Sun Tzu...or Bone Thugs-N-Harmony? Either way, while Cadillac catches flak for its controversial ELR ad, the above Ford ad with a C-Max Energi is either a shameless ripoff or a smashing riposte. (This, of course, depends on your affinity for European-derived plug-in crossovers.) Instead of a white guy, it's a black lady.