2008 Yfz450 Single Front Rotor Stock #2 on 2040-parts.com

Video: Yasushi Nakamuta on Mazda 3's 'unique' design process

It may be leaden with PR-talk but this short presentation by Yasushi Nakamuta, Mazda's director of advanced design studio at the press unveiling of the new Mazda 3 in Melbourne is still worth a couple of minutes of your time. But while the 3 is undeniably attractive we can't help but feel that the 'unique' design process Nakamuta describes (which appears wholly conventional to us) has resulted in little more than a thoroughly normal product. Take a look for yourself at the video to your left.

2013 Nissan GT-R gets a tweak

Nissan has had a play with the GT-R for 2013 with suspension upgrades, sharper responses and a more comfortable ride. On the performance front, the 2013 model year Nissan GT-R gets a set of new high-output injectors which give more concise control to fuel for better mid range and high rev response, a new relief valve for the turbocharger bypass cuts the decrease of pressure to sustain response and a new oil pan baffle helps maintain oil pressure. On the handling front Nissan has revised dampers, springs and the front anti-roll bar to lower the centre of gravity, new cam bolts on the front suspension improve accuracy and the torque carrying capacity of the driveshaft to hub bearings has been increased to you can attack a track more reliably.

Land Rover Defender by Vilner: The Landie gets a touch of posh

The Land Rover Defender by Vilner Anyone who has ever driven a Land Rover Defender will know that home comforts are not exactly at the top of LR’s list of priorities; spartan necessity probably best describes the interior fittings. But not after Bulgarian tuner Vilner has been to play it doesn’t. Vilner has had a commission from a Russian with a few bob burning a hole in his pocket who wanted a Land Rover Defender that was more than just a utilitarian workhorse.