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

2013 Skoda Octavia price & specs – costs from £15,990

Skoda has revealed prices and specifications for the new Octavia which will cost from £14,990 rising to £23,240. The new Skoda Octavia – Skoda’s new Octavia built on the new VW Golf platform – was revealed last month and goes on sale in March, so Skoda have had their abacus out to work out how much they want for a piece of new Octavia action. Starting point is the Octavia 1.2 TSi S which will cost £15,990, with the cheapest diesel – the Octavia 1.6 TDI S – starting at £18,040 and the range topping out with the Octavia 2.0 litre diesel Elegance at £23,240.

Toyota overhauls engine plans

For years, Toyota Motor Corp. has put hybrids at the center of its powertrain-technology strategy, all but oblivious to the rapid fuel-economy advancements rivals have made in the humble gasoline engine. Meanwhile, Ford, Honda, Mazda, Hyundai, Volkswagen and others have turned to gasoline direct fuel injection and turbochargers.

We sample Honda's car technology of the future

Ahead of the Tokyo Motor Show 2013 we’ve been to Honda’s research and development facility in Tochigi to see and experience some of the Japanese firm’s new and upcoming products and technology. We’ve covered the new Honda Civic Type R in some detail separately, but among the other cars driven here is the next generation Honda Jazz (known as the Fit in Japan), no less than three different types of Honda hybrid system, including one similar to that fitted in the forthcoming NSX supercar, and an all-carbonfibre CR-Z prototype. On top of which, we’ve also experienced a self-driving car, watched a crazy automatic-parking demonstration and sampled the latest version of the all-electric Micro-Commuter, Honda’s equivalent of the Renault Twizy.