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

For new CAFE rules, automakers place high-stakes tech bets

Game-changing 2015 fuel economy rules are forcing vehicle development teams to make high-stakes bets on expensive technologies--bets that will separate the winners from the also-rans. Not only do federal rules target a 2015 fleet average of 35.5 mpg, up from the current 27.5 mpg for cars and 23.1 mpg for light trucks; they force automakers to bet on different technology packages for each vehicle segment. Companies that do best at mixing technologies while keeping down costs will have an advantage when buyers wince at higher stickers.

Infiniti, Red Bull considering performance cars - Ghosn

Infiniti and Red Bull could go into business together developing go-faster performance cars, Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn has confirmed to CAR. The new August 2011 issue of CAR Magazine has a four-page interview with Ghosn (click here for a free digital preview) and we asked him if we will see a Red Bull-fettled Infiniti sports car. 'Why not?,' he replied. 'I don’t think we can bank on it today, but when Nissan people and Red Bull people come together and ask what can we do better, what can we do more of, if something like this makes sense, then why not?

2011 Honda Civic at Detroit

The 2011 Honda Civic - debut at then 2011 Detroit Motor Show Honda are previewing the Honda Civic Concept at next month’s Detroit Motor Show and have releaed a sketch to let us know what to expect. But this isn’t really a concept, it’s the 2011 Honda Civic and it will be on sale in the US by the Spring. Although it’s never particularly sensible to judge a car from a sketch – car companies do like to employ a little artistic license when rendering product yet to be – it seems clear that the 2011 Civic is going to get styling evolved from the Honda CR-Z with a bit of current Civic Type-R aggression thrown in as standard.