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

Shelby American celebrates the GT350's anniversary with a modern Mustang

Shelby American is marking the 45th anniversary of the legendary Shelby GT350 Mustang with a new version, designed for Ford's new 5.0-liter V8 in the 2011 Mustang. For those willing to plunk down $33,995--plus the cost of a new Mustang--the team at Shelby American in Las Vegas will crank out a modernized GT350. On the outside, that calls for white paint with the blue racing stripes down the center of the hood, roof and deck.

Mercedes-Benz axes Maybach

High ranking Mercedes-Benz sources have confirmed to Autoweek that the underperforming Maybach brand will be officially killed off in 2013. The decision to disband Mercedes-Benz’s upper luxury marque comes after a decade of disappointing sales for the Maybach 57 and 62 and a recent decision from the German car maker’s chairman Dieter Zetsche not to push ahead with the development replacement models – the likes of which were tentatively due out in 2014 – owing to what one insider describes as a “positive move to focus greater attention on the Mercedes-Benz brand” . “We’ve come to the conclusion that it is better to cut our losses with Maybach than to continue into an uncertain future with a brand that has failed to live up to original sales expectations," the insider said.

VW E-Bugster – it’s the electric love-child of a Beetle and a Porsche 356

VW E-Bugster Volkswagen has revealed the VW E-Bugster at the Detroit Auto Show, a squashed VW Beetle with big wheels and the electric motor from the Golf EV. Maybe it’s early and our eyes and brains aren’t in gear yet. But the VW E-Bugster – an electric customised VW Beetle – looks like it’s a cross between a California surfin’ chopped Beetle and a Porsche 356.