Report: Gasoline engine has big bang for the fuel-economy buck

A government report says improving the gasoline engine will yield huge gains for the consumer and the environment as automakers consider ways to improve fuel economy over the next 14 years. The Obama administration's technical assessment looked at four technology scenarios by which automakers might attain suggested CAFE goals of 47 to 62 mpg for cars and light trucks by 2025. The scenarios differed by the portion of an automaker's fleet that was accounted for by electrics, hybrid electrics and plug-in hybrid electrics.

Lexus RX 450h Advance added to RX range

The Lexus RX 450h Advance (pictured) added to the RX range Lexus has added a new version of the hybrid RX 450h to their range of offerings in the UK – the Lexus RX 450h Advance – but they’re not exactly pushing the boat out to promote it. The details we got from Lexus tell us that the Advance is based on the RX Luxury, but with the addition of extra kit and just one photo (above). Those extras amount to a new front bumper that’s half regular R and half RX F-Sport for a slightly more butch look, LED headlights and Lexus’s I-AFS auto-adaptive system that makes the lights move according to steering input.

Corvette C7 makes its debut in Gran Turismo 5

An unusual one, this: from today, gamers playing Gran Turismo 5 will be able to test drive the new Corvette C7 - two months before it's revealed to the world at the 2013 Detroit auto show. The makers of GT5 on PlayStation have modelled a camouflaged 'Vette C7 with Chevrolet's approval. We can't remember a manufacturer letting the public 'loose' in a prototype quite so far ahead of a car's launch before.