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

Lexus IS 300h promises unrivalled ownership costs

The new Lexus IS - launched at Detroit in January and costing from £26,495 for the IS 250 in the UK – actually offers ownership costs that eclipse diesel offerings from the likes of Jaguar, BMW, Audi and Mercedes, say Lexus. Despite the logical assumption that the complex hybrid powerplant in the IS 300h would cost more to maintain, Lexus say the opposite is true. Because it has no clutch and the starter motor and alternator are integrated they require no servicing or replacement and Lexus has fitted a timing chain instead of a timing belt, so it won’t need regular replacement either.

VW Law: EU sues Germany over Volkswagen Golden Share

VW Law attacked by EU We often bemoan the fact that, although we have a car industry in the UK, it’s either owned by businesses outside the UK or an offshoot of a foreign car maker. Unlike Germany, where their car makers are owned by Germans. But that’s partly our fault, at least as far as Europe’s biggest and most successful car maker – Volkswagen – is concerned.

Suzuki Swift Sport

Suzuki has launched the new Swift Sport. Based on the third generation Swift, the new Swift Sport is the first full model change since the launch of the original car in 2006. Previewed by the Suzuki S-Concept unveiled at the 2011 Australian motor show, the new Swift Sport measures in at 3890mm long, 1695mm wide and 1510mm tall.