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

Ariel Atom 500 V8 (2008): more details and photos

By Tim Pollard First Official Pictures 28 May 2009 10:34 British sports car specialist Ariel is beavering away on its latest adrenaline hit: a V8 version of its Atom. As if the regular Atom wasn’t barking enough, the new Atom 500 features a new 3.0-litre V8 producing 500bhp (hence the name), which propels it deep into ‘fastest car in the world‘ territory. Ariel has shown one exterior image of the Atom 500 already (pictured), but today is the first glimpse of the new V8 engine.

Four new electric speed records for the UK

Lord Paul Drayson has set a new World Electric Land Speed record for sub-999kg electric vehicles with an average speed of 205.139mph over the flying mile. This represents a modest 1mph increase over the previous record – which Drayson set last year in the same Drayson Racing Technologies all-electric prototype. But the ‘Lord of Speed’ (as we’ve just dubbed him) also broke four other records in the process.

World's most expensive Alfa Romeo sold at auction

The Alfa Romeo that was the brainchild of Mussolini has sold for nearly £6m at auction. The Italian dictator commissioned the Alfa Romeo 8C-35 to conquer Hitler's dominance of pre-war racing. Built in time for the 1935 Italian Grand Prix, the 8C-35 smashed the competition with racing star Tazio Nuvolari at the wheel and confirmed its fate as one of the most successful racing cars ever. At last weekend's Goodwood Revival, the 8C-35's place in the history books was confirmed as it became the most expensive Alfa Romeo ever to sell at auction. Selling for £5,937,500, the Alfa Romeo eclipsed the previous record of £4,245,118, held by a 1933 8C 2300 Monza, sold in 2010.