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

Nissan working on next-generation battery that is lighter, less expensive

A year before it launches U.S. sales of its first electric family car, Nissan Motor Co. is developing a next-generation battery that will be lighter and less expensive.

New 2015 Volkswagen Passat detailed ahead of July reveal

The 2015 VW Passat (pictured) is lighter and more economical The eighth generation Volkswagen Passat is detailed today by VW with design sketches and the news that the all-new Passat will lose 85kg in weight and get more economical engines. Due to be revealed in the metal in July – and debuting at the Paris Motor Show in October – the new Passat will go on sale before the end of 2014 with first deliveries in early 2015. Thanks to a weight loss of upt 85kg – achieved by using high-strength, hot-formed steel and aluminium in some areas – the new Passat will offer fuel efficiency improved by up to 20 per cent and, although the exterior dimensions of the new Passat are slightly smaller than the current model, the new Passat will offer more room for passengers and luggage.

Driven: Mitsubishi i

We first reviewed the diminutive Mitsubishi 'i' when it was unveiled at the 2005 Tokyo Motor show and, while we were pleased with the overall design of the car, we were disappointed that Mitsubishi had chosen not to export the innovative vehicle to other markets. But with the popularity of this compact urban cruiser soaring in Japan and the recent availability of the vehicle in the UK, we now had a chance to give it a go on the often traffic crippled streets of central London. Congestion in urban milieus is not a new phenomenon, but even with London's congestion charging system extorting money from drivers it doesn't seem to be getting any better.