Original Volkswagen Muffler on 2040-parts.com

Nissan Juke Nismo debuts

The Nissan Juke Nismo will debut this weekend at Le Mans 24 Hours and go on sale in the UK in early 2013. The Nissan Juke Nismo sounds like it should be a slightly watered-down version of the Juke R, but it’s not. The Juke Nismo, revealed at the end of 2011, is in fact a titivated regular Juke; think the Nissan version of IPL.

Toyota talks powertrain plans

After trailing many of its competitors in the recent engine- and transmission-technology wars, Toyota Motor Corp. will launch a swath of powertrains in the next several years, a top powertrain r&d executive said. Koei Saga, senior managing officer in charge of drivetrain r&d, said that Toyota is investing heavily in turbocharged engines, larger displacement Atkinson cycle engines, continuously variable and fixed-gear automatic transmissions, and new hybrid and fuel cell technologies.

2014 Honda Civic goes on sale today

The 2014 Honda Civic is now on sale. The LX coupe starts at $18,980 including destination while the top trim, an EX sedan with navigation, comes in at $25,030. A continuously variable gearbox is the only automatic transmission option this year, though a five-speed manual is available.