Gables Nav 2 Control Panel G-6513 on 2040-parts.com

Lexus IS (2013) more details of new 3-series rival

Lexus has pulled the cloth back on the all-new Lexus IS at the 2013 Detroit motor show, and announced more details of its new hybrid 3-series rival. This will be the first hybrid Lexus IS, and UK sales will start in summer 2013.  What do we know about the new hybrid Lexus IS?  The IS300h combines an electric motor with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. The torque output is yet to be confirmed, but there's 217bhp and Lexus is aiming for a sub-100g/km CO2 output and fuel consumption of at least 65mpg. Figures like that are likely to grab the attention of fleet managers, as Lexus hopes to close the gap on rivals like the BMW 3-series, Mercedes C-class and Audi A4.  There's a non-hybrid model too, but this IS250 will be powered by a 204bhp 2.5-litre V6 petrol engine. It won't be a fleet favourite.  The IS250h has a six-speed automatic transmission, the IS300h has a CVT gearbox, and both cars are rear-wheel drive.

Audi starts Facebook petition for the TT RS

Audi of America is doing what it can to convince its German bosses to send the TT RS our way. A petition on the automaker's Facebook page says that “Audi is seriously rethinking its original plans for the range-topping TT model and wants to hear from you.” As of Monday morning, the petition had gathered 3,742 signatures. Currently, the TT line in the United States includes only the TT and the TTS.

Top Gear tops iPlayer most watched list of 2013

Rex The BBC's flagship motoring programme Top Gear dominated the most popular shows watched on the iPlayer on-demand service in 2013, new figures reveal. The Africa Special part one was the single most watched programme, with 3,422,000 views last year, the BBC said. More and more people are watching programmes on catch-up via their computers, tablets or phones: a record three billion shows were streamed on iPlayer in 2013, a rise of 33% on the previous year.