All Riders - New Yamaha Banner Apex Nytro V Max Snowmobile - Diamond Plate on 2040-parts.com

Nissan’s new lightweight philosophy revealed

The leaked official drawings of the new Nissan Micra might have revealed the conventional styling of the company’s new supermini, but they gave little clue to the dramatically lightweight new platform that underpins it. The new Micra will be significantly lighter and more fuel efficient than the outgoing car due to a ruthless pursuit of weight reduction on the new V-platform (V = versatile), which on average has slashed 50kg from the new car's weight, and up to 70kg on some models. Project leader Noritaka Tsuru described the new package as a 'breakthrough car' that required a complete 'change in mentality' in how Nissan makes cars.

VW to intro Passat BlueMotion Concept at Detroit auto show

While performance heads are anxiously awaiting the North American debut of the hot-heat Mk VII Golf R at the Detroit auto show, Volkswagen's Passat BlueMotion Concept offers never-before technology in the Yank/Canuck family sedan segment: a four-pot motor with cylinder deactivation. Based on the EA211 1.4L turbo motor we sampled last year in the Euro-market Audi A3 sedan, the Passat BlueMotion Concept's engine is capable of shutting down the middle two cylinders during cruise, and features the Jetta Hybrid's gearbox, a twin-clutch unit capable of decoupling from the engine during off-throttle coasting. In the Passat's application, the 1.4 puts out 150 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque; VW suggests its highway fuel economy will stand at 42 mpg.

Bugatti Veyron Bleu Centenaire – first details

Bugatti Veyron Bleu Centenaire - another Veyron Limited Edition appears at Geneva '09 [ad#ad-1] We had a pretty good idea this was coming, as we reported last week, but the Bugatti Veyron Bleu Centenaire has appeared at the Geneva Motorshow last night. Contrary to expectations, it would appear that the Bleu Centenaire carries the stock 1001bhp Veyron engine and not, as was much speculated upon, a boosted version. Still, it looks like Bugatti have had the paring scissors out, and the reduced weight of the Bleu Centenaire should trim the Veyrons already awesome 0-60 time by a tenth or two.