Ford Fuel Line on 2040-parts.com

Toyota tests chips that improve hybrid efficiency by 10 percent

Toyota announced on Tuesday that it has developed a new semiconductor, claiming it can boost fuel efficiency in hybrid cars by an impressive 10 percent. The semiconductors manage the flow of electricity through the power-control unit that connects the battery to an electric or hybrid car's motor and generator. The newly developed semiconductors are said to consume only a tenth of the energy of today's chips, while allowing the power-control unit to be 80 percent smaller.

Alfa Romeo 4C Launch Edition: Geneva Motor Show 2013

Alfa Romeo has revealed the Alfa 4C at the Geneva Motor Show and the Alfa 4C Launch Edition which will cost €60,000. The Alfa Romeo 4C Launch Edition – just 1,000 are being built with only 400 staying in Europe – will cost a fairly strong €60k (around £52,000) and comes in either Carrara White of Alfa Red with a carbon fibre bodykit that adds carbon fibre for the spoiler at the back, to the door mirrors and round the headlights with dark alloys and front air intakes. The suspension also gets a tweak.

Study finds customer satisfaction up slightly

U.S. customer satisfaction with vehicles industrywide has increased slightly, fueled by gains among Asian and European automakers, according to an annual report released by the American Customer Satisfaction Index on Tuesday. Overall satisfaction with the auto industry climbed 1.2 percent from 2010 to 83.