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

Lotus appoints Swizz Beatz as Vice President of Creative Design and Global Marketing

We've become accustomed to surprising and – at times – bizarre news stories emerging from Lotus since Danny Behar became CEO. But judging from reaction in the world of social media this afternoon, even by Lotus's recent standards, the news that it has appointed American rapper Swizz Beatz as its vice president of Creative Design and Global Marketing, came as something of a surprise. Kasseem Daoud Dean, otherwise known as Swizz Beatz, has a broad creative background, having a portfolio that includes music producer, rapper, designer and painter.

Who's Where: GM's new Asian and European design studio appointments

New additions have been made to the design management teams at General Motors, both in Asia and in Europe. Effective today (August 1), Friedhelm Engler begins his new role as Director of Design for the Pan Asian Technical Automotive Center (PATAC), based in Shanghai, China.  He is responsible for all design related activities in the joint venture between General Motors and the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. Group (SAIC).

Project Car Hell, Homely but Lovable Edition: Triumph Mayflower or Frazer Vagabond?

Welcome back to Project Car Hell, where those little carburetor screws always disappear down the intake and all the parts you need are hoarded by bitter curmudgeons in Alaskan survivalist shacks. The Hell Garage Demons have come to the realization that the ugly cars of the early postwar era just don't get enough restoration love these days, and so they've taken a break from their day jobs (boiler-room managers for a major telemarketing firm) in order to scour the List of Craig for a pair of suitably homely machines from the 1946-1954 period. There were many to choose from, but they've found a couple of appropriate cars made on opposite sides of the Atlantic.