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

The fall and rise of the budget car

Twenty years ago, the classic bargain brands like Lada seemed to be going the same way as the Soviet empire that spawned them. Woefully dated and badly made, only a weirdo would have bought a new Lada rather than a second-hand model from Ford, Vauxhall or VW. However, one of the big trends in the car industry today is the re-emergence of bargain cars.

Fiat-Chrysler: A match made for enthusiasts

The Fiat-Chrysler marriage means big love for auto enthusiasts in the United States. Here's a quick rundown on some of the Fiat hardware we got a chance to sample during a recent visit to the company's headquarters and test track in Italy. Fiat 500: With styling that makes it look like the spawn of a Volkswagen Beetle and a BMW Mini Cooper, the 500 does an Italian job on both competitors: It's cuter than a Beetle, and likely less expensive than a comparable Mini.

Lexus GS gets Supercharged for SEMA 2012

A Lexus GS350 has been titivated and Supercharged by VIP Auto Salon ahead of a reeval at the 2012 SEMA Show. Last year – at the 2011 SEMA Show in Las Vegas – Lexus introduced us to the sporty side of the new GS with the debut of the GS F-Sport, a titivated GS with more aggressive looks and a more sporty character  But this year we’re getting something with a bit more oomph – a Lexus GS350 F-Sport with a nice meaty supercharger bolted on. We don’t actually get the GS350 in the UK – we have the choice of the GS250 with a 2.5 litre V6 or the GS450 V6 hybrid – but on the other side of the Pond they get the V6 we get in the 450h but without the hybrid gubbins, which offers 300 horses, and that’s the GS model VIP Auto Salon have given new life to.