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

Japan hopes to make EV recharging technology the global standard

Japan's automakers aim to cement their lead in electric vehicles by making Japanese recharging technology the global standard and bringing it to the United States. A coalition of manufacturers, including Nissan and Toyota, is teaming with Japan's biggest electric company and the government to make it happen. They aim to corner the market on one of the technologies that will be key to the eventual acceptance of electric-powered cars: the high-speed charging points that will act like gasoline stations of the future and enable drivers to recharge and keep driving after their batteries run low.

2010 LA Design Challenge entrants revealed

Entries for the 2010 Los Angeles Design Challenge have now been revealed. The futuristic proposals, which called for designers to envision a 1000lbs (454kg) 2+2 vehicle that delivers comfort, safety and satisfactory driving performance without sacrificing the emotional connection today's consumers demand from their vehicles, come from the west coast design studios of seven automakers – General Motors, Honda, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Toyota and Volvo. For the first time since the Challenge's inception, studios outside California have also been allowed to enter the competition.

Alfa Romeo MiTo Quadrifoglio Verde, 2500 ballons & an Alfa competition

Alfa Romeo MiTo Quadrifoglio and 2500 Balloons Alfa in the UK rather like a bit of social media promotion. So they’ve set up a competition to promote the quite warm Alfa Romeo MiTo Quadrifoglio. But instead of just doing the usual ‘Like us on Facebook to win’, they’ve put a bit of thought in to the whole thing.