2001 Polaris Indy 500 Edge Oil Pump Assembly on 2040-parts.com

Toyota overhauls engine plans

For years, Toyota Motor Corp. has put hybrids at the center of its powertrain-technology strategy, all but oblivious to the rapid fuel-economy advancements rivals have made in the humble gasoline engine. Meanwhile, Ford, Honda, Mazda, Hyundai, Volkswagen and others have turned to gasoline direct fuel injection and turbochargers.

Honda goes social with the Sounds of Civic songwriting contest

It seems all automakers are tapping the social-media networks these days. From the Ford Mustang Mayhem package to the Toyota Prius plural campaign, conventional wisdom is there's nothing a few thousand Facebook fans can't handle. The latest automaker to hop the train is Honda, which is sponsoring a creative songwriting competition called the Sounds of Civic to mark the debut of the 2012 Honda Civic.

Jets land on Rodeo Drive

Tail fins will be all over Rodeo Drive on Father's Day, June 16. The Rodeo Drive Committee has chosen “The Jet Age” as its theme for this year's street-closing concours, with tail-finned cars of the '50s and '60s lined up on the 300 block of the famous street. And to top it off, and perhaps because they made a nice contribution, parked on the 200 block will be a mock-up of the new Lear 85 business jet in all its carbon-fiber glory -- with the tail fin but minus the wings.