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

2012 Lamborghini Aventador completes a mad trio of supercars headed to market

If you thought the struggling global economy or high fuel prices might be hurting the world's supply of top-notch supercars, think again. Since March, AutoWeek editors have taken the wheel of not one, not two, but three of the most insane superperformers on the planet: the McLaren MP4-12C, the Ferrari FF, and most recently, the Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4. We see a few common threads: lots of lightweight aluminum and carbon-fiber materials, engines punching out more than 590 hp, automated-manual gearboxes, and prices that put them up against the average price of a three-bedroom home in most markets.

Peugeot 208 Hybrid FE (2013) at Frankfurt motor show

Here’s Peugeot’s salvo in the fight to make cars more economical: the 208 Hybrid FE. The supermini concept can achieve a claimed average of 112mpg (and a maximum of 141mpg), and emits only 49g/km of CO2. Peugeot is especially keen to point out it’s a conventionally shaped supermini with five seats, unlike VW’s own super-frugal XL1, which looks decidedly sci-fi in comparison, but has a smaller boot than a Ferrari 458… The 208 FE is 25% slipperier and 20% lighter than a regular 208, but that’s only part of the reason it allegedly achieves such eye-opening numbers at the pumps.

Ford aims at VW with new 2013 Focus ST video

We don’t do much complaining here at Autoweek—unless you’re clogging up the left lane—and overall we know we’re very lucky to be in our position. But we’re not quite as lucky as Ford factory drivers Ken Block and Vaughn Gittin Jr., who get an entire abandoned neighborhood to play around in with the new Focus ST. Block grabs the Focus and Gittin Jr.