Trail Gear 300733-1-kit Driveline Spacers, Steel, Natural, Toyota, Kit on 2040-parts.com

Civic hybrid tests Honda's new strategy

Despite being the first to sell an electric-gasoline car in the United States and making hybrid technology a centerpiece of its fuel economy push, Honda Motor Co. has yet to have a hybrid hit. But the redesigned Civic Hybrid, launched April 20, is the first test of whether Honda's new strategy of tapping lithium ion batteries and, later, two-motor systems can break the streak.

U.S. seeks 5 percent annual fuel-economy gains through 2016

The Obama administration today proposed gasoline mileage and greenhouse-gas pollution standards for new vehicles for model years 2012 to 2015, filling in the blanks for manufacturers en route to a 35.5 mpg national target in 2016. The Transportation Department and EPA proposal calls for fuel economy to increase by about 5 percent each year, starting from an average of 27.3 mpg for the 2011 model year, the agencies said in a statement. The average car buyer would save more than $3,000 in fuel costs over the life of a vehicle, the statement said.

Lamborghini LP560-4 Superleggera coming?

What appears to be a Lamborhgini LP560-4 Superleggera out testing But if the photo above is anything to go by it looks as if Lamborghini is planning a Superleggera version of the LP560-4 sooner rather than later. Which would work out pretty well for Lamborghini as they have rashly declared that they will deliver a new car at every road show, and with the replacement for the Murcielago cars – LP640/LP650-4/LP670-4 – still some way off, this could be a  good solution. They’ve run out of new cars for shows after revealing the Lamborghini Reventon Roadster this week at Frankfurt, so they need to get a bit of a hustle on before the next major show if they’re going to keep their promise.