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

Performance Car of the Year 2008

In the November issue of CAR Magazine we've gathered together 29 of the best performance cars from the past 12 months to find out which is best. And to bring you the key battles of 2008 we've split the 29 cars into groups. That means the new issue of CAR features the Lamborghini LP560-4 taking on the GT2, CLK Black and Gumpert Apollo; Nissan's amazing GT-R matches up against the new 911, the Jag XKR-S and Aston's revised V8; Ford's brand new Focus ST Moutune takes on the spanking Mini JCW and KTM's crazy X-Bow meets three of the best British track cars, plus much, much more.

Kia plots rear-wheel-drive strategy

Kia is going rear-wheel drive. The company's first-ever production rear-wheel sedan will launch in Korea in the first half of this year. It's code-named “KH,” and it shares a platform with the Equus, Hyundai's top-of-the-line RWD sedan.

The 2011 Volkswagen Touareg rolls out with a new hybrid powertrain

Volkswagen is banking on the fuel-saving properties of a new gasoline-electric hybrid drivetrain and what it describes as a wholesale improvement in quality levels to bolster North American sales of its second-generation Touareg. This new Touareg represents VW's first foray into the premium-hybrid-SUV market, which includes gasoline-electric entries from BMW, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz and Cadillac, among others. Further competition will come from a similarly powered version of the new Porsche Cayenne, alongside which the new Touareg was developed.