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

Nissan EV moves electric car closer to reality

It's called the Leaf in Japan, and whether or not Nissan's production electric car carries that name in the United States, the company insists that the car will be on the road before the end of 2010. Slightly larger than the familiar Versa subcompact, the zero-emissions Leaf was unveiled Aug. 2 at a dedication ceremony for Nissan's new global headquarters in Yokohama, Japan.

Porsche – the boss goes

Porsche boss Wendelin Wiedeking quits Well, Wendelin Wiedeking is not just any old suit, but the man credited with taking Porsche from an ailing, one-model car maker to the cash-cow it became. But Wendelin has become a victim of his own success – and the current economic woes. At any other time in the last decade, Wendelin’s plans to swallow VW would have worked.

VW Beetle Turbo, Jetta GLI get power increase

Volkswagen's 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine is getting a 10-hp boost; the engine is now rated at 210 hp while torque remains unchanged at 207 lb-ft. The engine will be available on the Volkswagen Beetle Turbo coupe and convertible and the Jetta GLI sport sedan. VW claims the new engine shaves 0.2 seconds off the Beetle Turbo's 0-60 mph time, which is now estimated at 6.6 seconds.