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

Driven: Lexus GS450h

Lexus' identity is still unclear, even 20 years after it launched. Toyota's premium brand has perpetually failed to establish a clear identity of its own due mainly to a lack of consistency and detail refinement across its products. Can the new GS change these perceptions?

Infiniti EV put on hold to concentrate on volume sales

An Infiniti EV based on the Nissan LEAF (previewed by the LE Concept above) have been put on hold Nissan’s luxury arm, Infiniti, is on a global push to try and make inroads in to the dominance of Lexus in the luxury Japanese car arena, and has ambitious plans to be selling 500,000 cars a year by 2017. But Infiniti sold only a third of that total in 2012, so any chance of hitting the lofty target of 500k cars in the next five years means they must concentrate on volume cars, not niche cars like a Nissan LEAF based EV. That means the LEAF-based Infiniti LE EV Concept we saw at the New York Auto Show in 2012 will stay as a concept for the foreseeable future as Infiniti boss, Johan de Nysschen, seeks volume cars that will push the brand forward and bring proper sales numbers.

Mercedes ESF 2009 Concept

The Mercedes ESF 2009 Concept showcases a raft of new safety technology So Mercedes has unveiled the Mercedes ESF 2009 Concept, which is a test-bed to showcase the latest technology Mercedes sees as on its way to mainstream. Mercedes has based the ESF Concept on the latest addition to the Mercedes S-Class Range – the S400 Hybrid – and has packed it to the rafters with airbags. There’s one that pops up between front seat passengers; airbags actually in the seatbelts and one great big airbag under the car that inflates if a crash is imminent.