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

Plug-In 2013 conference plugs along

Every now and then, the electric car industry comes together in a sort of Woodstock-of-the-Watt-Hour to take stock of itself and to exchange ideas, sign contracts and maybe have a beer. The most recent parliament of the plug-in was last week in San Diego at an annual industry event known as Plug-In 2013, although obviously they change the year in the title as necessary. Why keep gathering?

Toyota talks powertrain plans

After trailing many of its competitors in the recent engine- and transmission-technology wars, Toyota Motor Corp. will launch a swath of powertrains in the next several years, a top powertrain r&d executive said. Koei Saga, senior managing officer in charge of drivetrain r&d, said that Toyota is investing heavily in turbocharged engines, larger displacement Atkinson cycle engines, continuously variable and fixed-gear automatic transmissions, and new hybrid and fuel cell technologies.

London 'black' cabs exported to Australia

THE LONDON cab is to make an appearance Down Under - but coloured white rather than the traditional black. The London Taxi Company has exported a test sample of 98 second-hand TX4 taxis to the Western Australian city of Perth where they will under go trials over the next few weeks. It has been thought fit to paint the cabs white to take account of the perpetual Perth sunshine.