Toyota Ractis 2006 Rear Drum [2144481] on 2040-parts.com

2012 Honda Civic: First detail, photo and video

2012 Honda Civic - suitably disguised If you think about Honda cars the first car that probably springs to mind is the Honda Civic because the Civic seems to have been around for ever. In fact, the 2012 Honda Civic will be the ninth generation of the Civic over nearly 40 years. The original Civic arrived in 1972 with all its Japanese build quality and reliability intact from the start, and it was something of a revelation for a motoring public that were still buying new Austin 1300s and the later model Humber Sceptres.

GM bets on new four-cylinder family in Europe; U.S. plans unclear

General Motors' European subsidiary, Opel, has revealed a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder direct-injection gasoline engine that will be offered from early 2013 across its lineup, starting with the soon-to-be-revealed Astra-based Cascada convertible. The aluminum block unit, the first in a new range of so-called SIDI (spark ignition direct injection) ECOTEC engines, forms the centerpiece of the company's downsizing strategy for displacement. The engine is claimed to have improved torque characteristics and a significant reduction in consumption compared with its predecessor.

eBay offers free vehicle-history reports

All vehicles built since the 1981 model year listed for sale on eBay now include vehicle history reports from Experian Automotive at no cost to vehicle buyers or sellers. Starting Wednesday, the reports are available on all vehicles sold in eBay auction and classified formats, as well as for vehicles sold by dealers or by private parties, said Nicolas Franchet, senior director of U.S. vehicles at eBay Motors.