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

New 2013 Nissan Note gets more appealing

The new Nissan Note has turned in to a Ford Fiesta basher as Nissan turn the Note from a boring little MPV in to a convincing small hatch. We did think the Invitation would be watered down to produce a slightly titivated new Note for production, but much of the style has found its way through in to the new Note – which we first saw in the JDM Nissan Note last summer – and the Note now looks set to take on proper compact hatches like the Ford Fiesta. The nose of the new Note is now more convincing – with new headlights and grill – and the doors get a great big feature crease that looks like a giant smoothing iron has stamped its mark, although Nissan say it’s a ‘Squash Line’  whose ‘angles were inspired by the flight of a fast moving squash ball travelling around a court’.

Porsche Panamera Hybrid: Geneva Reveal

The Porsche Panamera Hybrid (click for bigger image) We’ve got to say, the news that the Porsche Panamera Hybrid (strictly speaking, the Porsche Panamera S Hybrid) is going to debut at the Geneva Motor Show in a couple of weeks time isn’t exactly a shock. After all, Porsche has made no secret of its plans to stick Hybrid gubbins in the Panamera; CO2 targets, and all that guff. But Porsche seems to think it is a surprise (unless they really have a surprise and are planning on revealing another Porsche hybrid altogether much sooner than we expected) as the press release we got in from Porsche has the enigmatic little tease of a headline – ‘Porsche: Hybrid world premiere’.

Ford to slash price of Focus Electric by $4,000 for 2014

Ford will be reducing the price of its Ford Focus electric by $4,000 for the 2014 model year, InsideEVs.com is reporting. The 10 percent price cut will lower the starting MSRP from $39,995 (including a $795 destination charge) down to $35,995. This move by Ford is seen as an attempt to keep the electric car competitive since its release back in 2011.