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

2012 Lexus GS: UK to get GS 450h & GS 250 – but no diesel

2012 Lexus GS to get a 2.5 litre V6 in the UK - the GS 250 The more we learn about the 2012 Lexus GS the more appealing it becomes which, considering the current GS is the most appealing driver’s car in the Lexus range, bodes well for the new GS. We know, for example, that Lexus intend the new GS to be a “…high-performance concept that can deliver an inspiring driving experience.”, which is an easy PR statement to make, but a not so easy promise to fulfil. But if early reports are anything to go by, it’s all looking rather interesting.

Lotus not liquidating

When a storied car brand moves only 137 units in a year in the UK and 242 in the US, predictions of said marque's demise carry a certain amount of weight -- 137 is not exactly a number that makes an automaker too big to fail. When the manufacturer in question shows up on a government list of companies to be shut down, brand-enthusiast hearts get heavy; the early stages of mourning kick in. But when the company in question is Lotus, the enthusiast thinks to himself, “Eh, they've been in dire straits before.

Videos: Chris Bangle shares his views on design and the future of car design

Chris Bangle is a man that needs no introduction on these pages. Both revered and castigated, Bangle's work has undoubtedly been influential for a generation of designers. His unconventional practices – employed at a time when design was still largely segregated from other departments during the development process – yielded many avantgarde and contentious designs, but Bangle's fundamental understanding of the design process, creative vision and desire for change can never be cast in doubt. While Bangle shares his views on the future of the car in the video to the right, the video to the left provides an insight into the former BMW design chief's thought processes and gives us a glimpse into his home and studio in the Piedmont region of northern Italy.