40 Years Of Small Block Power -poster, Mark Donahue, Dale Earnhardt, Zora Duntov on 2040-parts.com

New BMW M3 and M4 engine secrets laid bare

BMW's M division has lifted the veil of secrecy on the inline six-cylinder engine bound for its upcoming M3 sedan and new-to-the-range M4 coupe and convertible, revealing a potent twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter direct injection gasoline unit that produces an official 424 hp at 7,500 rpm and what officials describe as "significantly more than 369 lb-ft" of torque. The newly developed engine, known under the internal codename S55 B30, shares its 84.0 mm bore and 89.6 mm stroke with BMW's standard turbocharged 3.0-liter in-line six-cylinder direct-injection gasoline mill, the M55 used across the German car maker's lineup, endowing the aluminum block unit with an overall swept volume of 2,979 cc. This represents a sizeable 990 cc reduction on the engine BMW's M division's new unit replaces, the S65.

Jaguar XF 2.2 Diesel averages 62.9mpg on 2,884 mile U.S Road Trip

The Jaguar XF 2.2 Diesel completes its US Road Trip Last week we reported that Jaguar were taking an XF 2.2 Diesel to the US to drive from New York to Los Angeles to show just how economical the new, smaller engined diesel can be when driven on long, open roads. It was the U.S version of the economy run from Jaguar to Munich earlier this year, when economy-run specialists David and Alexander Madgwick managed to squeeze 57mpg out of the parsimonious XF. Which made us wonder if there was more to this run across the States than just another bash at shining the new XF’s eco-halo.

Royal Wedding Aston Martin: Wills grabs Charles’ Aston Martin DB6 Volante

Wills & Kate take Charles DB6 Volante for a spin down the Mall As gifts on a wedding day go – even a Royal Wedding Day – using your dad’s prized Aston Martin DB6 Volante to whisk your new bride away is quite special. With the agreement of the Prince of Wales, Prince Harry managed to fit out Prince Charles’ DB6 Volante with ribbons and bows and a JU5T WED number plate so the newly apponted Duke of Cambridge could whisk the Duchess of Cambridge away after the reception at Buckingham Palace. Although ‘whisk away’ is perhaps a bit too rash a statement, when they only managed to go a few hundred yards down the Mall to Clarence House for a break before the evening’s festivities.