Fly Racing 30-31111 Fly Blk on 2040-parts.com

SoCal Speed shop wins AMBR award as hod-rodding returns to its roots

In a competition that "took hot-rodding back to its SoCal roots," the SoCal Speed Shop--the entity founded by original hot-rod hero Alex Xydias and now helmed by Pete Chapouris--finally won the AMBR. That's AMBR, as in, America's Most Beautiful Roadster, the most sought-after title in all of hot-rodding and the crowning glory of the Grand National Roadster Show. There is that competition at the Detroit Autorama that hands out the Ridler Award, but that is open to all manner of kustom kars.

Sergio Marchionne wants to build Mazda in Fiat & Chrysler plants

Fiat boss Sergio Marchionne wants to build Mazda cars in Fiat and Chrysler plants around the world. When Alfa Romeo and Mazda revealed last week that they would be developing a new small roadster together – well, Alfa Romeo would take the next generation MX-5 and sculpt on a new body to make a new Alfa Spider – we suggested Mazda would be better of getting Fiat to build their cars. It seems Fiat boss Sergio Marchionne thinks the same.

Redesigned 2014 Lexus IS base price increases

Lexus has set the base price of the 2014 IS compact sport sedan at $36,845, including shipping, an increase of $885 from its predecessor, Lexus said. In contrast, the top-level IS 350 with all-wheel drive starts at $42,595, including shipping, which is 2.1 percent lower than the model it replaces, Lexus said in a statement this week. The pricing makes good on Lexus' guarantee to keep the base price attainable for consumers “by narrowing the gap between the 250 and 350,” a Lexus spokesman said.