2003 Ford Explorer Floor Center Console Gray 2606534 on 2040-parts.com

BMW's new M engine needs a better voice

BMW's M division claims its new twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine is every bit as good -- if not better -- than the glorious, naturally aspirated 4.0-liter V8 powerplant it replaces in the new M3 sedan and M4 coupe. The figures are certainly impressive. They say it kicks out 424 hp and more than 25 percent extra torque, with what is described as significantly more than 369 lb-ft below 2,000 rpm.

Chevy Malibu Eco hybrid is a tough sell

Most prospective Chevrolet Malibu buyers at Castle Chevrolet in suburban Chicago quickly decide that they don't want to pay nearly $3,000 more for the Eco mild-hybrid version. "For most people, it's hard to justify the extra money based on the extra fuel economy" of a combined 3 mpg more than the base model, says Jeff Tuckman, the dealership's inventory manager. "You've got the base LS model sitting next to it that's just as nice and luxurious." It's a problem flagged by many Chevy dealers.

Toyota Corolla (2014)

The 2014 Toyota Corolla is the company's eleventh generation of the world's best-selling model, with almost 40 million sold since the first appeared in 1966. In line with the attempt to inject some interest into Toyota's model range (witness the new Avalon for example), this new Corolla is based around the mantra ‘Iconic Dynamism', whatever that might mean. The result is a car that certainly appears more interesting than its forebears on the evidence of these pictures.