Acdelco 46d0081a Upper Ball Joint on 2040-parts.com

Redesigned 2014 Lexus IS base price increases

Lexus has set the base price of the 2014 IS compact sport sedan at $36,845, including shipping, an increase of $885 from its predecessor, Lexus said. In contrast, the top-level IS 350 with all-wheel drive starts at $42,595, including shipping, which is 2.1 percent lower than the model it replaces, Lexus said in a statement this week. The pricing makes good on Lexus' guarantee to keep the base price attainable for consumers “by narrowing the gap between the 250 and 350,” a Lexus spokesman said.

Lexus LFA, from design to dealership in six minutes: Video

Seeing the Lexus LFA in person makes it easy to forget that the supercar has been in development for more than 10 years. But you do get a wondrous amount of technology for $375,000, the carbon-fiber body, a retractable rear wing and a compact V10 so fast that analog gauges couldn’t keep up with it. Add to that 553 hp, 354 lb-ft of torque and a 202-mph top speed, and we just had to put the LFA to the test at our favorite local racetrack.

Michael Mauer appointed head of design at Porsche

Porsche AG has anounced the appointment of Michael Mauer to take over as chief designer from Harm Lagaay, who will retire on July 1 after 15 years in the post. Michael Mauer, 41, studied automobile design at Pforzheim University, and started his career at Mercedes-Benz. In 1989, he was appointed design project leader for the Mercedes V Class models, and was in charge of design work for the first SLK model generation.