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

Ariel Atom 700 is a turbo-supercharged 700-hp track weapon

If you're willing to ditch sleek supercar looks and just about every automotive creature comfort in the pursuit of pure performance, you might consider the Ariel Atom 3. Powered by a 2.4-liter Honda I4 engine cradled in an exoskeletonlike frame, the Atom 3 boasts a 0-to-60-mph time of just 2.9 seconds But maybe those performance numbers just aren't enough for you. If so, Piedmont, S.C.-based DDMWorks might have a solution.

Lotus secures more funding, but five-year plan is dead

The five-car, five-year plan for Lotus developed under Dany Bahar is dead, according to an Autocar report. But rumor has it that the sexy Esprit concept could be revived at a low cost. Tan Sri Mohd Khamil Jamil, managing director of the company that owns Lotus parent company Proton, DRB, confirmed that the company sold 70 cars in the U.K.

MAZDA5 RESIDUAL PERFORMANCE IS 'BEST KEPT SECRET'

A NEW diesel version of the Mazda5 MPV has stormed onto the market with the best residuals in its class. Used car valuation expert CAP has described the 1.6-litre diesel model as a "best kept secret" and has predicted that the Sport model will retain 32 per cent of its value after three-years and 60,000-miles. The TS2 model also performs extremely well, with a 31 per cent retained value predicted.