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

2011 Audi A8 loads up on technology, interior comfort

If you had just the side views of the new, fourth-generation 2011 Audi A8 sedan and its predecessor to look at side by side, the differences appear more subtle than stark. There are the fancy LED headlights and relocated body-side character lines on the new A8, but the roofline and body pillars are mostly unchanged. Inside, though, the change is dramatic.

Lexus goes bonkers for SEMA 2010

Lexus SEMA 2010 I think we’re going to stop trying to work out what Lexus is all about. Just when we think we have them pegged down as green halo, fluffy-bunny-loving corporate eco-mentalists with a misguided view of the future of the car, they go and produce the LFA. We put the LFA’s existence down to its long gestation period; there is no way Lexus would embark on such a project today.

Hot seats: from design to delivery [sponsored]

As the user demands on car interiors are increasingly influenced by their growing design consciousness, so suppliers like Lear strive to bring better-engineered seating to satisfy. 2013 was another big year for Lear, as Jeanette Puig-Pey, its global fabric & leather design manager, enthuses: "At our ‘Design2Perform' event we celebrated the unveiling of our brand new collection, with special emphasis on color and texture and our TeXstyle Enhance product, perfect for customization. Laser etching is part of this offering, it is exclusive to Lear Corporation and can be used to add refined design elements to cloth and leather." A mix of fabric and leather in seating is not new but is often seen by the consumer as a cheaper alternative to full leather.