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

Fashion designers make their mark on Opel/Vauxhall Adams

Vauxhall has joined forces with fashion designers Louise Gray, James Small and Fred Butler by giving them the chance to personalize their own Adam car. Each designer had their own Adam to customize and they set about the task of using it as a canvas to express their own signature style. Gray, whose designs are typically colorful and bold, used foil-printed silk crepe and large sequins to personalize her car; Small's smooth, brightly- painted Adam represents his printed menswear line, while Butler's vibrant geometric design conveys his personal style.

Jaguar readying SUV for Frankfurt motor show

While the next new Jaguar model slated for dealerships is a BMW 3-series fighter rumored to be called the XS, Autoweek sources have confirmed the company will also be showing an SUV at the Frankfurt motor show in September. Likely to be named XQ or Q-type, the Jaguar SUV is expected to ride on a version of the XS platform (itself a variation on the aluminum XJ architecture) rather than share a platform with a Land Rover product. Slated for 2016 production, the new Jaguar XQ SUV will share some powertrain technology with Land Rover, specifically the Ford I-4 engines from the Evoque.

Driven: Jaguar XF

It is possibly harder to design a Jaguar than any other premium car brand. The essence of the firm's highly regarded design language is over 40 years old with the shadow of the 1961 E-type and 1968 XJ6 - and even the 1955 Mk1/1959 Mk2 - looming large. For decades the design group has taken cues from these old designs and reinterpreted them to appease the traditionalist Jaguar customer, but in doing so they have reinforced the 'old-man' image of Jaguar and pushed many customers to Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz.