Clutch Flywheel-dl Fidanza 161781 on 2040-parts.com

Ken Ma appointed VP Design at Chang'an

Former Shanghai Automotive Technical Center (SATC) design director Ken Ma joined Changan Automobile Group as vice president of the firm's Engineering Research Center late last year. Ma's new role puts him in charge of the Group's global design department, reporting directly to Changan group chairman LiuPin Xu on all design matters. But the move also effectively places him in the highest design position at any mainstream automotive company in China – a breakthrough for the country's automotive design industry.

Lexus ends production of LFA supercar (2012)

The final example of Lexus's carbonfibre supercar – the LFA – has rolled off the company's Motomachi production line in Japan, bringing to an end a seven-year journey from the initial concept model, and two years of LFA production. It's surely the longest gestation and shortest lifecycle of any car in recent memory. That final Lexus LFA will be worth a few bob in years to come then...

Skoda Octavia Hatch GreenLine arrives offering 88.3mpg – price from £20,150

Skoda Octavia Hatch GreenLine (pictured) promises 88.3mpg Even though official economy figures from car makers are, at best, disingenuous, they still serve, to a degree, and an indicator of a car’s relative economy. So the arrival of the Skoda Octavia Hatch GreenLine in Skoda’s UK showrooms with official economy figures of 88.3 mpg and emissions of just 85g/km, makes it an appealing offering for cost conscious private and fleet buyers. The Octavia Greenline Hatch  looks pretty much the same as any other Octavia, so you won’t be driving a car that shouts ‘I’m a cheapskate’, but you will get extra eco stuff like low rolling resistance tyres on 16″ Velorum alloys to give you the best chance of getting close to the official economy figures.