6-71 Detroit Diesel Marine "cast Aluminum" Water Cooled Exhaust Manifold 5187630 on 2040-parts.com

Le Mans champ: laser lights are the future

Three-time Le Mans 24 Hours race champion Allan McNish has told us that technology first trialled at the world famous endurance event often makes it on to road cars – and this year’s big thing will be laser lights. Speaking ahead of Le Mans 2014, McNish said that racing is more relevant to everyday cars than people think – with features from seat belts to windscreen wipers debuting at the race. Audi R8 V10 plus review (2013 onwards) Las Vegas debut for Audi Sport Quattro laserlight concept “The laser light’s on this year’s Audis will make it onto road cars straight away,” McNish told us.

Porsche acquires Nardo Test Track as its new playground

Porsche Nardo Test Track (map from Google Earth) The enormous Nardo Test Track near Lecce, Italy, has been acquired by Porsche as a new testing ground. Top Gear viewers will probably remember the opening episode if the last series of Top Gear (series 18) with the Lamborghini, McLaren and Noble in Italy or, more specifically, in the Lecce region of Italy which nestles in the warmth of Italy’s heel. The Lecce region also houses the Nardo Test Track which is where the boys took their supercars to hammer round the slightly bumpy outer oval seeking top speed.

Tax disc to be scrapped after 93 years

David Cole | REX Features Tax discs are to be axed, chancellor George Osborne has announced in his 2013 Autumn Statement. But motorists will still pay an annual Vehicle Excise Duty (VED / road tax) fee. The round paper certificates we all currently display in our car windows have served as proof of this road tax payment since 1921.