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

New Ford Kuga: Titanium and Titanium X make up 87% of sales

The new Ford Kuga is now hitting UK showrooms, and Ford has revealed that 87% of buyers are opting for the range-topping Titanium and Titanium X models. But what’s most interesting – in what is supposed to be a cash-strapped economy – is that a full 87 per cent of all the new Kugas ordered so far have been the range-topping Titanium and Titanium X models, and the average up-spend on options is another £1,000 on top of that. That means that although the Ford Kuga range starts at £21,000, 87 per cent of buyers are actually spending between £25-30k on their new compact SUV, which must warm the cockles of Ford’s heart.

Toyota aims for a comeback, shuffles execs

Toyota, unveiling a new business plan to double operating profit by 2015, will remove its head of North America from a downsized board and promote Canada chief Ray Tanguay to be its highest non-Japanese executive. Yoshi Inaba, 65, continues to lead Toyota North America and Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. while becoming one of 18 directors to lose board seats.

Porsche reveals Panamera Turbo S

PORSCHE has taken the wraps off its new Panamera Turbo S, built for those who think the regular Turbo is neither fast nor exclusive enough. Prices will start at more than £131,000 for the car, which uses a twin-turbocharged 562bhp V8 petrol engine and four-wheel drive to catapult its two-tonne bulk to 62mph in just 3.8 seconds, on the way to a top speed of 192mph. Fuel economy is recorded as 27.7mpg on the European standard ‘combined cycle’ average, but drivers in the real world should expect around 20.