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

Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse world speed record: Video

We hoped that tease might be for something really interesting and new – perhaps the much rumoured 1600bhp Veyron or even the Galibier –  but it was simply a new world record for an open-topped production car. Impressive, of course, but just more of what we expect from Bugatti, rather than something new and innovative. The new world record for the Vitesse was set at the VW facility at Ehra-Lessien where Chinese driver Anthony Liu took the Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse to 254mph, creating a new world record for an open-topped production car and, more importantly for Bugatti, an excuse to produce a limited run of the Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse WRC Edition with a black and orange paint job for €1.99 million each.

Automotive Press Association Design Panel says autonomous cars will tear up design rulebook [w/Video]

Fully autonomous cars will challenge everything we know about car design to date, according to industry experts at the Michelin Challenge Design-hosted Automotive Press Association (APA) Design Panel. The APA members-only event, held at the Detroit Athletic Club, carried the theme of 'Driven/Undriven: The Duality of Tomorrow's Automobile' – the subject of this year's Michelin Challenge Design – and explored the design challenges and opportunities that will arise with the advent of autonomous vehicles. The APA Design Panel consisted of Jim Hall of 2953 Analytics, Chris Borroni-Bird, vice president of Strategic Development at Qualcomm and author of Reinventing the Automobile: Personal Urban Mobility of the 21st Century as well as Stewart Reed, chair of the Transportation Design course at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California.

Dan Darancou appointed Chief Designer at CH-Auto

Former GM design manager Dan Darancou has become Chief Designer at CH-Auto, a major Chinese car design studio that supports numerous domestic car manufacturers as well as international car companies looking to sell vehicles in the burgeoning automotive market. Darancou, who started his new role on November 1, will be overseeing all design activities as well as facilitating the liaison between the styling and engineering departments so the company can deliver complete ready-for-production vehicles and services. As well as tackling these initiatives, Darancou will also be promoting the organization, furthering the company's goal to become the premier car design studio in China.