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

Audi A7 Sportback Launched: Price & Models

The Audi A7 Sportback Launches Finally, after much teasing and a little tormenting, Audi did the decent thing and put us out of our misery with the launch of yet another niche filler – the Audi A7 Sportback – at the Museum of Modern Art in Munich last night. Displayed in all its brown-ness, the Audi A7 looks like an oversized A5 Sportback with the nose of the new A8. In the flesh at launch it somehow seems less impressive than the concept A7; more corporate.

Lexus IS (2013) more details of new 3-series rival

Lexus has pulled the cloth back on the all-new Lexus IS at the 2013 Detroit motor show, and announced more details of its new hybrid 3-series rival. This will be the first hybrid Lexus IS, and UK sales will start in summer 2013.  What do we know about the new hybrid Lexus IS?  The IS300h combines an electric motor with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. The torque output is yet to be confirmed, but there's 217bhp and Lexus is aiming for a sub-100g/km CO2 output and fuel consumption of at least 65mpg. Figures like that are likely to grab the attention of fleet managers, as Lexus hopes to close the gap on rivals like the BMW 3-series, Mercedes C-class and Audi A4.  There's a non-hybrid model too, but this IS250 will be powered by a 204bhp 2.5-litre V6 petrol engine. It won't be a fleet favourite.  The IS250h has a six-speed automatic transmission, the IS300h has a CVT gearbox, and both cars are rear-wheel drive.

Fuel economy important to car buyers, survey finds

A survey by Consumer Reports magazine finds that fuel economy is most important to car buyers. Nearly 40 percent of those surveyed ranked gas mileage as the No. 1 buying factor.