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

Porsche nearing 900 orders for its 918 Spyder hybrid concept

When Porsche AG showed the 918 Spyder at the Geneva show in March, we said it was a car to “make anyone a believer in hybrid supercar tech.” Well, maybe not anyone, but Porsche now says it has almost 900 potential buyers for the two-seater hybrid prototype as the German automaker gets closer to approving production. Porsche development chief Wolfgang Duerheimer said he is confident the company will soon reach the threshold of 1,000 orders, which is how many the company needs to “make a sound business case.” The 918 has 680 hp and, according to Porsche, will get 78 mpg and run from 0 to 60 mph in 3 seconds. Porsche said it wants to double its overall vehicle sales to 150,000 in the next five years or so.

Telematics discounts tempting young drivers

INCREASING numbers of young drivers are opting-in to telematics-based car insurance in attempt to reduce their premiums. Specialist young driver insurer Carrot has reported a 62% rise in the number of its policyholders choosing to have a telematics device, consisting of accelerometers and a GPS tracker, fitted to their car. The company says that they could save up to 20% on their annual insurance premium, which for the youngest drivers almost always amounts to a discount of hundreds of pounds.

New fuel marker to prevent fraud

A NEW RED DYE fuel marker is being introduced by the British and Irish governments to tackle fraud. The illegal use of cheaper fuel in the UK means criminals avoid paying tax and can sell it on at a lower rate than normal fuel from a petrol station. The new marker will make it harder for criminals to disguise fuel by removing the red dye.