Arias Pistons 12.5:1 Compression 82mm Bore Honda B-series on 2040-parts.com

Akio Toyoda waves family flag, heir makes crisis personal challenge

The reclusive Akio Toyoda is taking the rare step of waving the family flag, as the scion to Toyota Motor Corp.’s founding dynasty tries to steer the world’s largest car company out of a spiraling safety crisis. In testimony prepared for the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, President Toyoda pursues a rare personal tack on the emergency, saying “my name is on every car.” “As you well know, I am the grandson of the founder, and all the Toyota vehicles bear my name,” Toyoda says in prepared comments circulated ahead of Wednesday’s committee hearing in Washington. “For me, when the cars are damaged, it is as though I am as well.” The intimate reflection is a departure for Toyoda, who has spent most of his career sidestepping public discussion of his lineage.

2014 Ram 1500 diesel is the new Truck of Texas

In addition to being one of the largest automotive markets in the country, Texas is also Truck Country. So when members the Texas Auto Writers Association talk about the trucks they like, we tend to listen -- as do automakers. This year, following what we can only imagine was an extra-dusty, extra-gritty Truck Rodeo, TAWA has chosen a new Truck of Texas: The 2014 Ram 1500 pickup.

Design Contest: Citroen Creative Awards

Citroën is hoping to repeat its successful design and graphics competition, which began last year, with the launch of the 2011 iteration of the Creative Awards contest. The Citroën Creative Awards aims to find new talent by ‘opening up your ideas'. The inaugural competition from last year saw the winning roof and IP graphic design put into the DS3 and placed on public display on the Champs-Elysees.