1000/2000 Allison Transmission, Atsg Manual (116400a) (4/13) on 2040-parts.com

Tokyo Motor Show: Lexus LF-NX Concept

WHILE this striking LF-NX concept might have only made its debut a few months a go, for the Tokyo Motor Show Lexus has unveiled an updated version of its striking compact SUV. With its bold grille generating plenty of column inches, the premium Japanese car maker has decided to remodel the car’s nose slightly as it continues on its path towards eventual production status. Also new is the inclusion of a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine, which is likely to feature alongside Lexus’ usual hybrid offering.

2014 Chevrolet Spark EV rated at 119 mpg

General Motors says its Chevrolet Spark EV will get the equivalent of 119 mpg in combined city and highway driving, the best efficiency of any U.S. car sold to retail buyers. The 2014 Spark EV, which will be launched this summer in California and Oregon, will have an EPA-rated range of 82 miles when fully charged, GM said in a statement.

Jaguar Lightweight E-Type makes a comeback after 50 years – 6 new Lightweights to be built

6 new Jaguar Lightweight E-Types on the way Even in 1963, car makers made ‘special editions’ of production cars, and one such car was the Jaguar Lightweight E-Type, a lightweight version of the then new production E-Type designed to take Jaguar racing. This was in the days before carbon fibre panels, so Jaguar built many of the body panels from aluminium and fitted an aluminium block version of the 3.8 litre engine from the production E-Type with 300bhp (55bhp more than the road car), fuel injection and a ZF 5-speed gearbox. The Lightweight E-Type wasn’t a spectacular success on the track, and Jaguar ended up building just 12 of the original planned run of 18.