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

Land Rover Defender LXV celebrates 65 years of Land Rover

As part of the celebrations at Packington Estate – which was the original testing ground for the 1948 Defender prototypes – Land Rover are launching a celebratory Defender special edition – the Land Rover Defender LXV – based on the standard Defender and available in five different body styles and with the 2.2 litre diesel engine and 6-speed manual ’box. The Defender LXV gets the sort of toys no one could ever have envisaged on those early Defenders, including a Santorini Black or Fuji White paint job with Corris Grey roof, grille and headlight surrounds, full leather seats with orange contrast stitching, lots of ‘LXV’ badges and even the option of a Union flag on the back. John Edwards, LR’s Global Brand Director, said: Land Rover is celebrating 65 years of proud heritage.

Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival is full

Steve Earle, the granddaddy of vintage racing in America, has picked 375 historic race cars to fill the field at his Sonoma Historic Motorsports Festival, June 5-6 at Infineon Raceway in California's wine country. "The cars are the stars," said Earle. "And when they aren't racing, they are easily accessible in this area for the fans for that up-close and personal experience of inspecting engines, talking with owners or otherwise learning more about the sport and the restoration and maintenance of vintage cars." Earle said the event will continue the tradition of the Monterey Historic Automobile Races, which he founded 37 years ago.

Volvo S60 Polestar Gothenburg debut

The Volvo S60 Polestar – a BMW M3 basher – is due to debut in Gothenburg on 16th June 2012 and could get as much as 500bhp. Yes, Volvo are busy downsizing their engines and trying to up the quality perception of their cars at the same time, in an aim to join the proper premium club inhabited by the likes of BMW, Mercedes, Audi and Jaguar. But that doesn’t mean Volvo should forsake performance in their cars, because even if performance models are not the bread and butter for premium car makers they are the golden halo that casts a premium gloss on lesser models.