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

Akio Toyoda waves family flag, heir makes crisis personal challenge

The reclusive Akio Toyoda is taking the rare step of waving the family flag, as the scion to Toyota Motor Corp.’s founding dynasty tries to steer the world’s largest car company out of a spiraling safety crisis. In testimony prepared for the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, President Toyoda pursues a rare personal tack on the emergency, saying “my name is on every car.” “As you well know, I am the grandson of the founder, and all the Toyota vehicles bear my name,” Toyoda says in prepared comments circulated ahead of Wednesday’s committee hearing in Washington. “For me, when the cars are damaged, it is as though I am as well.” The intimate reflection is a departure for Toyoda, who has spent most of his career sidestepping public discussion of his lineage.

Stress and strife of the school run

SCHOOL RUN WARS are rife, with parents prepared to squabble over parking spaces and argue with their children, according to a survey. As many as 23% of mothers and fathers admitted blocking another parent in with their vehicle and 14% owned up to cutting someone up, the poll of more than 3,000 motorists by Auto Trader showed. Also, 16% of parents have argued with other mothers and fathers on the school run and 53% have had rows with their children.

2015 BMW M4 convertible: First look

Meet the 2015 BMW M4 convertible, the final entry in BMW's revamped M3 and M4 high-performance lineup. The new drop-top will join the M3 sedan and M4 coupe later this month at the New York auto show and is expected to go on sale this summer. The new M4 convertible takes the place of last generation's M3 convertible, and will use the same powerplant as both the new M3 and M4: BMW's TwinPower 3.0-liter inline six will deliver 425 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque, redlining at 7,600 rpm.