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

Nissan Juke-R: What happens when a GT-R and a crossover get too cozy

Shoehorning a twin-turbo V6 from a Nissan GT-R into the little Juke crossover--that's the type of craziness we've come to expect to show up at the annual SEMA show in Las Vegas. But Nissan's not waiting for SEMA. Its European tech center has performed the powertrain transplant, with the help of race team Ray Mallock Ltd., to create the Juke-R.

Volkswagen XL1

This, remarkably, is the production version of the Volkswagen XL1, the most fuel-efficient production car in the world, a car we'll see in Geneva in a little over a week. Barely changed from the concept version shown at the Qatar motor show two years ago, the production XL1 is the first production result of VW's 1-liter project – to design a car that uses less than 1l/100km (282.5mpg imperial) – that started with the lozenge-shaped, tandem-seat 2003 1L and the later L1 of 2009. The XL1 actually beats that by sipping just 0.9 liters with CO2 emissions of 21g/km.

Audi Q5 due next year: Autoweek Magazine

Audi will offer a hybrid version of its Q5 premium SUV in the US starting in late 2010, says Wolfgang Hatz, head of powertrain development for the Volkswagen group. If the car is a success in the US, Audi said it may launch it in Europe. In an interview at the auto show here last month, Hatz said Audi must offer a hybrid model to compete with rival vehicles that already offer the technology, such as the Lexus RX 400h.