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

2012 BMW 3-series: The new features that matter

Those who covet the BMW 3-series probably don't need a lot of reason to buy a new one--other than that there's a fresh model for 2012. But after a splashy reveal on Friday in Munich, Bimmerphiles and mainstream consumers alike have reason to consider the 2012 BMW 3-series for both practical and enthusiast-oriented pursuits. Here's why: The sixth-generation BMW 3-series is fitted with a host of the latest technologies both underhood and underskin, which make the 3-series more relevant for the times yet true to its heritage.

Jaguar XK66 is Germany’s farewell to the XK

The Jaguar XK66 (pictured) is Jaguar’s pricey goodbye to the XK in Germany We know that Jaguar is ending production of the XK this summer, and the UK already has its run-out special editions in the guise of the Jaguar XK Signature and XK Dynamic R. And now it’s the turn of Germany to get a goodbye XK. The Jaguar XK66 is a limited run XK – just 66 are being built – with the ’66′ moniker referring to the 66 years since the introduction of the XK’s earliest direct ancestor – the Jaguar XK120.

Four big pickups get low marks in crash tests

Four 2009 full-sized pickups got low marks in side-impact crash tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a research group for auto insurers. Crash protection is "poor" in crew-cab versions of the Chevrolet Silverado and Nissan Titan without side-impact airbags, according to test results the institute released on Wednesday. The Dodge Ram with standard side-impact airbags got only a "marginal" rating, the institute said.