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

Production output decline slowing

By Alex Michaelides Motor Industry 24 July 2009 12:09 It appears there may be some light at the end of the tunnel for ailing car manufacturers as the most recent vehicle production figures are released. The data, presented by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), show that, while production levels are still on the decline, the pace at which they are declining is slowing. Car production figures for June 2009 are still down by 30.2% compared with this time last year, however this is an improvement on the 50.2% by which production is down so far this year.

Jason Castriota to head Saab Design

When Car Design News spoke to Jason Castriota about the new design consultancy he had set up in New York and Turin back in March, the designer told us he was working on a very exciting automotive project that he couldn't talk about at the time. It turns out that automotive project was for Saab, as last week the Swedish automaker announced it had hired Jason Castriota Design to oversee the development of a new generation of Saab products – the first to be completed under the tenure of its new owners, Spyker. Castriota's new appointment marks the shift from Saab's former position – where the brand was an integrated company within GM – to its newfound placement as an independent automaker, with Castriota essentially filling the role previously occupied by Mark Adams, GM Europe's Vice President of Design.

2012 British Grand Prix: Alonso takes pole for Ferrari at Silverstone

Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso has taken pole position in a rain-soaked qualifying at Silverstone for the 2012 British Grand Prix. Just like the rest of the UK in this miserable summer, Silverstone was soaked by endless rain with qualifying held up for an hour and a half as conditions became too dangerous to continue. Before the break – halfway through Q2 – Jenson Button had already succumbed to the conditions after slowing under a yellow flag after Timi Glock spun on a wet track leaving Jenson no time to set a time.