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

Ralph Gilles talks past, present and SRT future

Ralph Gilles -- SRT boss, Chrysler vice president of design, curator of something called the "Man Van," has become the public face of Chrysler performance, carrying the legacy of Firepower engines and 428 Coronets and the Dodge Viper RT/10 into the future with the Challenger, Charger and Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8s. Since "unofficially" helping form it in 2003, Gilles has seen SRT transformed into Chrysler's most coherent performance strategy since Plymouth Rapid Transit, a company-wide force so much greater than the flagship Dodge Viper. He was there from the beginning.

Concept Car of the Week: Renault Altica (2006)

Back in 2006 Renault was still well into its design-leadership stride, if perhaps not for much longer. The Altica concept, shown at that year's Geneva motor show, showcased all the French brand had to offer at that time – a brilliantly brave, architectural interior, a style that could only be associated with its country of origin and an interior that thoroughly questioned and readdressed layout, control and format. It also served to preview the renaissance of the Shooting Brake that the industry is still experiencing.

BMW tuner Manhart creates 743-hp M6 Coupe

There are BMW M6 drivers out there for whom the stock output of 560-hp and 500 lb-ft of torque just aren't enough. At least that's what German tuner Manhart is betting on in unveiling their MH6 700 version of the M6 hardtop. Manhart has been tuning BMWs and only BMWs for 20 years, and they've worked on everything from the E30 3-series to the latest offerings from the Bavarian automaker.