International Scout Steering Rush Barring #48 on 2040-parts.com

Toyota unveils SEMA show Dream Build Challenge cars

Toyota's SEMA show plans this year are egalitarian: they include cars involved with two separate contests on which you, the custom car enthusiast, can vote online to your heart's content. Four cars took part in the Toyota Dream Build, now in its second year. Last year, Toyota's Dream Build enlisted people from the world of NHRA and NASCAR, who all came up with some extremely rad stuff.

2012 Buick Verano compact teased

Buick is teasing its future compact sedan called the Verano. A picture of the small car was released on Thursday along with the news that General Motors would spend $145 million to upgrade a factory in Lake Orion, Mich., to build the Buick and a Chevrolet small car. The Verano would be a 2012 model.

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.