Corvette Voltage Regulator, 1966 on 2040-parts.com

Ford targets Toyota Prius with C-Max Energi crossover

Ford is going after the Toyota Prius with its new C-Max Energi plug-in hybrid. In its latest release, the Blue Oval called out the best-selling hybrid seven times while announcing the new crossover's fuel, range and pricing. Ford says the C-Max Energi will travel 550 miles on one tank of gas.

VW to intro Passat BlueMotion Concept at Detroit auto show

While performance heads are anxiously awaiting the North American debut of the hot-heat Mk VII Golf R at the Detroit auto show, Volkswagen's Passat BlueMotion Concept offers never-before technology in the Yank/Canuck family sedan segment: a four-pot motor with cylinder deactivation. Based on the EA211 1.4L turbo motor we sampled last year in the Euro-market Audi A3 sedan, the Passat BlueMotion Concept's engine is capable of shutting down the middle two cylinders during cruise, and features the Jetta Hybrid's gearbox, a twin-clutch unit capable of decoupling from the engine during off-throttle coasting. In the Passat's application, the 1.4 puts out 150 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque; VW suggests its highway fuel economy will stand at 42 mpg.

Mitsubishi Lancer EVO X FQ330 SST launched

Mitsubishi has launched the Mitsubishi Lancer EVO X FQ330 SST [ad#ad-1] Mitsubishi has decided that there is a hole to fill in its Evo X range, so it has introduced the Mitsubishi Lancer EVO X FQ330 SST, to fit in between the FQ300 and the FQ360. The Mitsubishi Lancer EVO X FQ330 SST offers an increase of 29bhp over the FQ330, and features Mitsubishi’s new six-speed Twin-Clutch Sports Shift Transmission, which translates in to a 0-60 mph time of 4.4 seconds. The additional power on the FQ330 comes from a re-mapping of the ECU and improvements to the intake and exhaust to make the Evo breathe more easily.