Continental Engine on 2040-parts.com

Driving the Edison 2 Very Light Car 4.0

Oliver Kuttner got into the alternative car business to make money. Or, more accurately, he got into it to win money. In 2010, the $5 million Progressive Insurance Automotive X Prize was up for grabs and Kuttner, a Charlottesville, Va., real estate developer and former IMSA/ALMS racer, won it with his single-cylinder-engined Very Light Car (“Lightweight Endeavors,” June 27, 2011).

Ferrari 458 Italia is the latest masterpiece from Maranello

Ferrari has drawn from the visual spirit of the Enzo to create a power-packed replacement for the F430 that shuns the rounded curves of its past V8s in favor of chiseled, unmistakable aggression. Boasting a new 4.5-liter V8 engine, a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox and a 202-mph top speed, Ferrari has revealed that the car--code-named F142 and long rumored to be named the F450--will be called the 458 Italia. Following Ferrari lore, it stands for a 4.5-liter engine with eight cylinders, though why Ferrari thought people would forget it came from Italy is anybody's guess.

New Infiniti M35h: The world’s fastest full hybrid

Infiniti M35h - the Fastest Hybrid in the world We’ve had plenty of reason to take the rise out of the Infiniti range as Infiniti try to gain a foothold in the UK and European markets for their posh Nissans. But one Infiniti we did like the look of is the M35h hybrid. When Infiniti revealed the M35h last year, we were suitably impressed that they were delivering a hybrid with some half-decent sporting saloon credentials.