Derale 15950 on 2040-parts.com

Asian brands top annual Consumer Reports rankings on reliability

Honda, Acura, Porsche and Scion topped the annual Consumer Reports reliability survey released on Tuesday. At the other end of the spectrum, Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz were deemed among the worst. Findings are based on responses about 1.3 million vehicles owned or leased by subscribers to Consumer Reports or its Web site.

Lexus offers IS 350C F-Sport Special Edition

Lexus is livening up its IS 350C with the introduction of the F-Sport Special Edition model. With accessories taken from the Lexus F-Sport parts catalog, the limited-edition offers open-air driving enthusiasts a better-handling and more aggressive-looking IS C right off the showroom floor. Building off the 306-hp IS 350C, Lexus installs Bilstein-developed shocks, shorter springs, thicker antiroll bars and newly styled 19-inch wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport tires.

Nissan 370Z unveiled at LA Auto Show

By Ben Pulman Motor Shows 19 November 2008 17:10 Nissan pulled the wraps of its new 370Z coupe at today’s LA Auto Show, and confirmed that a Roadster version will arrive within the next 12 months. Topping the list of 370Z talking points are a shorter wheelbase, a larger engine, a seven-speed automatic and the world’s first rev-matching six-speed manual gearbox. Nissan dubs it the ‘SynchroRev Match’ function (they would, wouldn't they?), and it essentially blips the throttle to smooth out any shifts.