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

BMW i3 EV to get BMW motorcycle engine as range extender?

BMW i3 to get motorcycle range-extender engine? The only real way to make an electric car – any electric car – come close to being a viable replacement for an ICE car is to fit it with a small engine to extend its range and charge its batteries when reserves get low. The range extender is the technology the Chevy Volt and Opel Ampera use to make their cars suitable for more than just short urban commuting, and it’s something BMW are planning as an option for the i3.

One Lap of the Web: The Talented Mr. Honda, electric airplanes and Viper-powered Jensens

We spend a lot of time on the Internet -- pretty much whenever we're not driving, writing about or working on cars. Since there's more out there than we'd ever be able to cover, here's our daily digest of car stuff on the Web you may not otherwise have heard about. -- A blog post at Hemmings called our attention to this fascinating profile of Soichiro Honda, which was originally printed in the June 16, 1963 edition of the British newspaper The Observer.

Ken Block rolls out Ford Fiesta hybrid race car

Driver and rally racer Ken Block introduced his latest vehicular weapon on Monday. The Hybrid Function Hoon Vehicle (HFHV) is not a hybrid in the traditional gas/electric sense, but instead is able to transform itself to compete in various race disciplines. The HFHV Fiesta will compete in three distinct disciplines--stage rally, rallycross and gymkhana events.