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

New products to drive Porsche's sales goals

Porsche may add an entry-level sports car as part of a plan to double global sales to 200,000 units by 2018. The new four-cylinder sports car would be in addition to a small SUV and a plug-in hybrid supercar recently approved for production. Matthias Mueller, the former Volkswagen executive who took over as Porsche CEO in October, says a new product strategy will be completed by the end of March.

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.

Acura releases specs, photos of the ZDX

Acura confirmed specs and released more photos Monday of the new ZDX, which is scheduled to arrive this winter as a 2010 model. The ZDX is the vehicle being pitched as a “four-door sports coupe” and, as expected, will come with a 3.7-liter V6 engine making 300 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque. That's paired with a six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters.