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

Center stack is new high-stakes battleground; showdown with safety regulators looms

For auto suppliers and gadget companies eager to get a piece of the auto industry, the hottest chunk of vehicle real estate now is the center stack. That corridor of interior space, running from the driver's right hip up through the center of the cockpit to the bottom of the windshield, has become a California gold rush of opportunity. But it is less so for traditional suppliers of molded plastics, cables, levers, buttons and radios.

Autoweek Best of the Best semifinalists announced

Ten cars and 10 trucks are in the running for honors as the 2013 Autoweek Best of the Best. Semifinalists will undergo further evaluation by our editors, who will judge the vehicles based on drivetrain, ride quality, handling, exterior, interior design and fun factor. The winner will be announced in the January 7, 2013 issue.

2014 Corvette Stingray rated at 455 hp

The 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray's 6.2-liter LT1 V8 engine has been rated at 455 hp at 6,000 rpm and 460 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm -- the highest standard-power rating ever for the Corvette. An available performance-exhaust system boosts the rating up to 460 hp and 465 lb-ft of torque. Chevrolet says the new LT1 with standard exhaust has 25 more horsepower than the current Corvette's base LS3 6.2-liter engine, which is rated at 430 hp, and 41 lb-ft more torque compared with the 2013 model's 424 lb-ft.