Ford to triple production of EcoBoost engines by 2015

Ford EcoBoost Engine production to increase In another clear sign of engine downsizing by car makers Ford has announced it will triple production of its EcoBoost engines in Europe by 2015. The petrol engine is fighting back against hybrids and diesels with downsizing and forced induction creating petrol engines that work more pleasingly than  diesels – and with lower particulate emissions – whilst delivering proper performance and levels of economy that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago. Ford is in the vanguard of this mainstream push to make petrol engines relevant even in a car world dictated by government CO2 targets (which aren’t really CO2 targets , they’re official economy targets) and they’re planning to triple production of their very good range of EcoBoost engines in Europe over the next three years.

Audi A2 concept (2011) first official pictures

The original Audi A2 was ahead of its time – it was small and fuel efficient, but its all-aluminium construction made it costly before the world was ready to pay a premium for a small car. But now it’s back, and to preview the new A2 being launched in 2015, Audi is unveiling this A2 concept car at the 2011 Frankfurt motor show next week. What is the new Audi A2?

Jenson Button drives the McLaren P1 up the Goodwood hillclimb (video) UPDATED

Jenson Button drives the McLaren P1 (pictured at Goodwood) up the hillclimb Update: We’ve added an extra video of the McLaren P1 going up the hillclimb that shows more of the actual run (below) It’s all Goodwood FoS this weekend – hardly surprising – and now we have video of the McLaren P1 in action up the hillclimb. McLaren roped in their F1 star, Jenson Button, to get behind the wheel of the P1 for its debut on the Goodwood hillclimb, but we get more of the Jenson talking head than we do of the P1 in action. Still, Jenson’s an affable and entertaining chap, and we learn that his daily driver is currently a company car – the McLaren 12C Spider – which he keeps in his garage in Monaco.