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

Posh car 'pushes up house prices'

HAVING a posh car in the driveway can push up property prices, according to a survey. As many as a third of people reckon having a luxury motor outside their home can add to the value of their house, the poll by car rental company Avis found. Around a third of the 2,000 adults surveyed also thought a flash car would help sell a property.

E85 makes inroads on cost and availability

Three years ago, we embarked on a Midwest road trip in search of what was then the Holy Grail of fuel: E85. Our findings weren't too positive--there were far more E85-compatible vehicles on the road in 2006 (5 million) than there were E85 pumps to fuel them (about 700 out of some 200,000 fuel stations nationwide). In addition, those burning the mix of 15 percent gasoline and 85 percent ethanol were paying a pretty penny for their earth-friendly ways, losing about 15 percent in fuel economy while often paying the same price as regular unleaded.

VW Golf wins 2013 European Car of the Year

Volkswagen's Golf is the 2013 Car of the Year. Announced at a ceremony on the eve of the Geneva motor show, the seventh-generation Golf scored the most points from the 58 voting jury members, from 22 European countries. Each juror has 25 points to distribute among the eight-strong shortlist, which this year comprised: Peugeot 208Renault ClioFord B-MaxHyundai i30Volkswagen GolfMercedes A-classVolvo V40Subaru BRZ/Toyota GT86 It was a resounding victory for the Golf, which scored 414 points to the second placed BRZ/GT86's 202.