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

Rumour: Aston Martin One-77 gets canned – or does it?

Aston Martin is really struggling at the moment. Discounts abound (particularly on ’08 model year cars – you can have a V8 Vantage Roadster for not much over £60k, and a DB9 for £75k), and new car sales are as rare as hens teeth. Not surprisingly, there have been deep job cuts, and the dealer network is really struggling to survive.

Car Design Awards China 2012 winners announced

The third annual Car Design Awards China competition came to an end earlier this evening as the winners of the 10 categories were announced along with the nomination for 2012 Student Designer of the Year - Xiao Hangjie, a student at Hunan University. The awards ceremony was held at the studios of CH-Auto in Beijing in the presence of an audience of renowned designers and judges from both domestic and international OEMs, with esteemed designer Chris Bangle acting as master of ceremonies. At the concluding judging session held in Beijing in March, one of the judges, Simon Loasby, Director of Design at VW China, said, "It was so difficult for us to decide on a winner, the entrants were so strong.

ZAP electric car

California-based ZAP has completed the initial concept phase for a new electric vehicle claimed to hit a top speed in excess of 100 mph with a range of 100 miles per charge.  "With ZAP's experience over the past 12 years and the groundwork we have already laid, we know that electricity is the future of the auto industry," said ZAP CEO Steve Schneider.  "At the same time, we believe we have a design that will serve a niche no other manufacturer in the auto industry is seeking to fill." More details of the car will become available at the end of the month.