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Honda cuts UK production by 50 per cent

Honda (UK) cuts production Japan is slowly recovering from the earthquake and tsunami that hit on 11th March. Or at least its production is. Honda has revealed that it expects its Japanese plants to resume production of 11th April – just one month after the disaster – but initially that will be at just 50% capacity due to a shaky parts supply line.

New engines for BMW 3-Series, 4-Series and X5

The BMW 3-Series, 4-Series (pictured) and X5 ar getting new engine options. With a new BMW X5 recently debuting, together with the new 4-Series and recently updated 3-Series, there are already a number of variants on offer, but this autumn there are more to come. The BMW 4-Series range (the replacement for the old 3-Series Coupe) will see the arrival of a new entry-level model - BMW 420i Coupe – with a 184hp four cylinder petrol engine with a 6-speed manual as standard or the eight-speed auto as an option.

Toyota & Lexus: Hybrid sales in Europe hit 20%

The ‘Green’ evangelists want to get us all driving electric cars to save the planet, but in the real world car drivers want a car that offers them all the practicality of a normal ICE car, but without the penalties of the poor range, high cost and inconvenience of an EV. So, with ever-rising fuel costs, it’s no wonder car buyers are willing to pay a little more for a car that offers better economy at the pumps – which plays straight in to the hands of Hybrid pioneers Toyota. The result is that Toyota and Lexus now see a full 20 per cent of their sale in Europe being hybrid cars in the first quarter of 2013, with sales of hybrid cars up a massive 82 per cent year-on-year.