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

AW Design Forum: Nissan design boss challenges cookie-cutter design

Using provocative words such as “guilty” and “fearful,” Nissan Design America chief Bruce Campbell was blunt in his assessment of the current state of car styling: There's too much sameness. Speaking at the AW Design Forum on Thursday morning in Detroit, Campbell pulled no punches, pointing to the bad economy, global design--and fear--as reasons for blandness in sheetmetal. “We are guilty of this sameness.

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.

2012 Mercedes SLK 55 AMG costs £54,950

2012 Mercedes SLK 55 AMG The Mercedes SLK 55 AMG, which was revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show, is to cost £54,950 in the UK. The 2012 Mercedes SLK AMG 55 was revealed just before the Frankfurt Motor Show, and Mercedes told us it would go on sale in the UK in early 2012. So it’s a good job they’ve finally managed to come up with a price for the new SLK 55 AMG so at least UK buyers will finally know what they’ve got to stump up – £54,950.