JE Designs turns up the power in Touareg hybrid

JE Designs unveiled its freshly tuned 440-hp Volkswagen Touareg hybrid on Friday. The German tuning company boosted the Touareg’s output from 380 hp to 440 hp by optimizing the management of the 3.0-liter engine. The hybrid’s electric motor remains untouched.

Consumer Reports slams new Honda Civic

Honda Motor Co., still struggling with supply shortages of the redesigned 2012 Civic after the March earthquake in Japan, took a slap in the face today when Consumer Reports rated the new Civic "too low to be recommended." The 2012 Honda Civic dropped 17 points, from a very-good score of 78 to a mediocre 61, in the latest Consumer Reports road test of small cars. Previous Honda Civic models have often been Consumer Reports' highest rated small sedans, as well as Top Picks in five of the past 10 years. But the redesigned model was slammed for the cheapness of its interior, poor ride quality, long stopping distances and loud interior noise.

Eco cars named and shamed

By Tim Pollard Motoring Issues 26 September 2007 10:19 A new report today exposes the real green cars - and there's not a hybrid in sight in the top 10, according to researchers at Cardiff University. Conventionally engined superminis dominate the top ranks. The scientists gave half their score based on each cars' emissions of CO2, NOx and other pollutants; the other half of the score was calculated from vehicles' construction, energy costs, recyclability and size.