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

Report: Gasoline engine has big bang for the fuel-economy buck

A government report says improving the gasoline engine will yield huge gains for the consumer and the environment as automakers consider ways to improve fuel economy over the next 14 years. The Obama administration's technical assessment looked at four technology scenarios by which automakers might attain suggested CAFE goals of 47 to 62 mpg for cars and light trucks by 2025. The scenarios differed by the portion of an automaker's fleet that was accounted for by electrics, hybrid electrics and plug-in hybrid electrics.

American Elegance: Duesenbergs and drag cars return for concours at Meadow Brook

Cackling and rumbling, roaring and growling, the pair of vintage drag racers rolls onto the brick courtyard--a silver 1965 Dodge Coronet and a gaudy orange '66 “Gas Ronda” Mustang. They're two of the headliners at this year's Concours d'Elegance of America at Meadow Brook. They were followed moments later by a Bugatti Veyron, which almost silently slipped into view, thanks to the clandestine output of its 1,001 hp.

New 2013 Nissan Note gets more appealing

The new Nissan Note has turned in to a Ford Fiesta basher as Nissan turn the Note from a boring little MPV in to a convincing small hatch. We did think the Invitation would be watered down to produce a slightly titivated new Note for production, but much of the style has found its way through in to the new Note – which we first saw in the JDM Nissan Note last summer – and the Note now looks set to take on proper compact hatches like the Ford Fiesta. The nose of the new Note is now more convincing – with new headlights and grill – and the doors get a great big feature crease that looks like a giant smoothing iron has stamped its mark, although Nissan say it’s a ‘Squash Line’  whose ‘angles were inspired by the flight of a fast moving squash ball travelling around a court’.