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

Toyota & Lexus: Hybrid sales in Europe hit 20%

The ‘Green’ evangelists want to get us all driving electric cars to save the planet, but in the real world car drivers want a car that offers them all the practicality of a normal ICE car, but without the penalties of the poor range, high cost and inconvenience of an EV. So, with ever-rising fuel costs, it’s no wonder car buyers are willing to pay a little more for a car that offers better economy at the pumps – which plays straight in to the hands of Hybrid pioneers Toyota. The result is that Toyota and Lexus now see a full 20 per cent of their sale in Europe being hybrid cars in the first quarter of 2013, with sales of hybrid cars up a massive 82 per cent year-on-year.

2013 Porsche Cayman: LA Auto Show (video)

The 2013 Porsche Cayman has arrived at the Los Angeles Auto Show with more power, less weight, better economy and is lower and longer than the old Cayman. The new Cayman gets a redesigned platform that manages to improve weight distribution and drops weight too. It also means that the Cayman changes shape too (well, as much as a Porsche ever does) and grows by 35mm in length and sits 10mm lower too for an even more Boxster-like look.

2013 Kia Sorento: UK Price & Spec

The 2013 Kia Sorento – Kia’s take on the Hyundai Santa Fe – arrives in UK showrooms this month priced from £26,495. Kia’s new Sorento is basically the same convincing package as the new Santa Fe, just wrapped up in a Kia instead of a Hyundai. That means new underpinnings and a more appealing shape with a tweaked and fettled 2.2 litre CRD under the bonnet attached to either a six-speed manual or 6-speed auto.