Arias Pistons 12.5:1 Compression 82mm Bore Honda B-series on 2040-parts.com

Pininfarina takeover would boost Magna expertise in key areas

Magna International Inc. would become a stronger competitor for design and development jobs if it takes over struggling car styling and engineering firm Pininfarina S.p.A., executives say. “Magna badly needs design competence, and Pininfarina has top staff,” said Paolo Tumminelli, CEO of Goodbrands GmbH, a brand and marketing consultancy based in Cologne, Germany.

Chevrolet sprinkles in some ZR1 for the Corvette Z06 Carbon Limited Edition

With the ZR1 grabbing all the headlines of late, it's easy to forget about the other pumped-up performance thoroughbred in the Corvette stable--the Z06. However, that's about to change, because Chevrolet is taking some of the ZR1 goodies and transplanting them over onto the Z06 for the 2011 model year, such as the Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes and magnetic select ride control system. The features will be standard on a new 2011 Corvette Z06 Carbon Limited Edition, which Chevy is using to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Corvette's first 24 Hours of LeMans race.

First details of new Volkswagen Golf revealed; GTi planned for Paris

Volkswagen has revealed the first details of its seventh-generation Golf--including a classy new interior--at a heavily cloaked press event ahead of the car's official unveiling in September in Berlin. The Golf, VW's perennial best seller, has raked in worldwide sales of more 29 million cars over 38 years of production. The new model, which is described as being up to 23 percent more economical than its predecessor, is planned to go on sale across Europe in November, replacing today's model, introduced in 2008.