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

Goodwood Moving Motor Show: (almost) an unqualified success

The Goodwood Moving Motor Show Yesterday we toddled along to Goodwood to see the set up for this year’s Festival of Speed and to have a look at the Moving Motor Show in action for the first time. We also – courtesy of Jaguar, who had invited us for the day – got an early drive up the hillclimb-based circuit that forms part of the Moving Motor Show’s appeal for the lucky ones who got the opportunity to take the wheel of one of the impressive bunch of cars on display. And it was an impressive bunch, with everything from the Toyota Auris Hybrid to the Rolls Royce Phantom DHC via the Audi R8 and the new Jaguar XJ on offer to drive.

Honda to offer second-gen Element

Although the Element has been a disappointing seller, Honda plans to offer a second generation of its quirky crossover rather than treat it as an experiment. The company is hitting a key demographic with the Element that it does not reach with the vehicle's platform sibling, the CR-V, said John Mendel, American Honda Motor Co. executive vice president.

Crunch watch Mar 09: the auto industry in crisis

By Ben Pulman and Tim Pollard Motor Industry 31 March 2009 13:48 Tuesday 31 March 2009• Porsche said that its earnings before tax rose to €7.3 billion in the six months to the end of January – including a €6.8bn windfall from its VW share options (Financial Times)• Fritz Henderson, GM's president and chief operating officer, will step up to replace Rick Wagoner, who was ousted on Sunday as CEO of General Motors (Financial Times)• President Obama is essentially CEO-in-chief of GM – despite not owning a single cent of stock, says Detroit News commentator (Detroit News)• German chancellor Angela Merkel gives assurances that any would-be investors in GM's European arm will be given state support. Opel is asking for €3.3 billion in aid – and up to 25,000 jobs in Germany depend on it, with up to 300,000 jobs across Europe including Saab and Vauxhall (BBC News)Monday 30 March 2009• General Motors' chief executive Rick Wagoner has been ordered to resign by US president Barack Obama with immediate effect. It's part of Obama's administration's critique of GM and Chrysler's turnaround plans – he's understood to be unhappy with the plans submitted (BBC News)• New GM non-executive chairman Kent Kresa has admitted that at the company's next general meeting it will have 'a majority of new directors' (General Motors)• Chrysler will receive US government aid for the next 30 days, but the Obama administration has said that if the company cannot secure a tie-up with the Fiat Group within that time period it will not receive any more money from the taxpayers and could go into liquidation.