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

Aston to launch 'two or three Lagonda models' - Bez

Aston Martin is preparing to launch 'two or three' new Lagonda models, CEO Ulrich Bez has confirmed to CAR. In a wide-ranging interview with our European editor Georg Kacher in the new June 2011 issue, Dr Bez revealed numerous details about the plan to relaunch the Lagonda brand. The new-generation Lagondas are to include a sporty crossover, an Allroad-type crossover and a high-end luxury saloon following in the footsteps of the William Towns-designed boxy 1976 Aston Martin Lagonda, CAR understands.

Maybach 57S Coupe arrives

The Maybach 57S Coupe by Xenatec Regular readers will know that we gave due warning back in March that Maybach was going to be allowed to wither on the vine rather than get new models, apart from a run-out Maybach Coupe based on the Maybach 57S and ‘produced’ by German firm Xenatec. Mercedes refuted our story about the Maybach badge being allowed to die again soon after the story ran (although there were rumblings at Paris last week that Mercedes has lost patience with Maybach. We’ll see), but what we did get was an official announcement that there will indeed be 100 Maybach 57S Coupes built by Xantech and that they will costs a rather large €675,000.

2014 Subaru XV – less choice, more refinement

The 2014 Subaru XV (pictured) gets a bit of a tweak The Subaru XV arrived in the UK in 2012, and it’s a perfectly able and reasonably-priced compact crossover from Subaru. But within a year of launching the XV Subaru decided to inject a bit more appeal in to the XV with a price cut of £2,300 across the range and now, not more than six months later, they’re fiddling with the XV range again. The 2.0 litre petrol XV gets new valve-train components to cut engine noise and revised suspension, with extra soundproofing improving NVH levels across the range, a revised power steering system for added stability and feel  and thicker and reshaped suspension lower arm and extra reinforcement around the base of the A-Pillar for better crash performance.