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

Jaguar hybrid cars due in 2013-14

Jaguar will launch its own hybrid vehicles soon after Land Rover, CAR can confirm. Parent company Jaguar Land Rover is developing battery-assisted hybrid versions for both brands but its strategy puts part-electric Land Rovers first on the launchpad in 2013.Hybrid Jaguars – set to include the XJ and XF, but eventually every model – are therefore likely to be on the market by 2013-2014, using a similar eight-speed ZF hybrid transmission to petrol-electric BMWs.The staggered roll-out of battery Jags and Land Rovers makes sense: heavy 4x4s have come in the firing line from green protestors who label them Chelsea Tractors. Hybrid Land Rovers will trim emissions and – in plug-in hybrid mode – enable even big bulky Range Rovers to drive in zero-emissions mode into central urban areas emitting nothing more unsaintly than an electric whir.So which Jaguars will go hybrid first?It's likely that the largest models such as the XJ will receive the hybrid power packs first; large cars reap the greater benefit and can more easily swallow the additional cost, put at around £10,000 in today's money.JLR's Midlands engineering bases in Whitley and Gaydon now employ 100 engineers in the expanding hybrid powertrain business unit launched 18 months ago.

Honda Ridgeline may be near the end of the line

Honda is likely to kill the poor-selling Ridgeline unibody pickup after the 2011 model year. "There will be a model-year 2011 Honda Ridgeline but we haven't announced anything beyond that," Honda spokeswoman Christina Ra said. The Ridgeline was introduced in 2005, sharing some chassis components with the Acura MDX SUV.

Infiniti Etherea concept (2011) at 2011 Geneva motor show

This is the Infinit Etherea, unveiled today at the 2011 Geneva motor show, and the company is unusually candid about the purpose of this new, smaller Infiniti show car. The blurb says: 'it is a compact luxury model that previews how a future entry-level Infiniti could look.' Says it all really. The compact vehicle is aimed at the younger buyer looking for a little luxury - it's all about downsizing.