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

Brits talk up new Bentley racer's chances

BENTLEY’S first mainstream racing team since 2003 has been talking tough about their all-new car’s chances as it runs through its race preparation. Guy Smith, who was part of the team that won the overall Le Mans 24-hour crown in a Bentley Speed 8 10 years ago, is leading another team of three as the Continental GT3 racer hits the track at next month’s Gulf 12-hour endurance race in Dubai. “After four months of hard work and development testing, we definitely feel ready to start focusing on our race performance,” Guy said.

Maserati Quattroporte

Maserati has revealed the first pictures and details of the 2013 Quattroporte ahead of its official debut at the Detroit auto show in January. The sixth-generation Quattroporte, a high-performance sports luxury saloon, will be the first of three new models that Maserati hopes will begin to increase its annual sales. The car retains some of the design cues from the outgoing model, namely the front grille, three side vents and the triangular C-pillar, while it also features a sharp beltline that rises towards the car's rear and runs through the side of the car.

Is the V8 a dying breed? Auto engineers expect more turbos, smaller engines

The V8 engine, a symbol of power and prestige for more than a century, is looking more and more like an endangered species. A panel of powertrain experts speaking on Tuesday at the 2009 SAE World Congress painted a bleak picture for big engines in this era of tightening emission standards and volatile fuel prices. But smaller engines will not mean drivers have to give up performance.