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

Audi shifts to eight-speeds for most models

A formal press conference probably won't happen until this summer, but we hear that Audi dealers have received their 2011 order guides, and it looks as though the company will be going from 0 to about 70 percent of U.S. sales being eight-speed automatic transmissions. Beginning this fall, the eight-speed will replace today's six-speed automatic in the A4 2.0-liter turbo sedan and wagon, the A5 2.0-liter turbo coupe and cabriolet, the Q5 2.0-liter turbo, the Q7 3.0-liter turbo, the Q7 diesel, the Q7 with the 3.0-liter supercharged V6 and the all-new A8 and A8L with the 4.2-liter V8.

Monaco Grand Prix: It’s a Mercedes front row

Nico Rosberg & Lewis Hamilton pictured after making it a Mercedes front row in Monaco Two weeks ago in Spain, Nico Rosberg pipped team mate Lewis Hamilton to pole position, and he’s pulled the same trick on the streets of Monaco today to ensure the second Mercedes front row in succession and his own third pole position in a row. Behind the Mercedes it’s a Red Bull second row, with Sebastian Vettel taking third place and Mark Webber fourth, with the third row made up of the Lotus of Kimi Raikkonen and the Ferrari of Fernando Alonso. McLaren managed to take seventh (Perez) and ninth (Button) with Sutil’s Force India in eighth and Vergne’s Torro Rosso in tenth.

Barrett-Jackson to auction commemorative Z06 Corvette for museum fundraiser

In honor of the Chevrolet Corvette's inaugural appearance and victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans some 50 years ago, Chevrolet built a special 2011 Corvette Z06 wearing the same paint scheme--Arctic White paint, blue stripes and the number "3"--to pay tribute to the class-winning 1960 Cunningham Corvette. Chevrolet and the General Motors Design Center built and added several special one-off features for this car, which has vehicle identification number 001: -- Competition Gray headlamps, mirrors and wheels -- Special 50th-anniversary of Le Mans racing logos -- Blue brake calipers -- Z07 performance package with Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes -- 19-inch front/20-inch rear 20-spoke Competition Gray wheels with Michelin PS2 tires -- Magnetic Selective Ride Control -- Black carbon-fiber front splitter and rockers -- ZR1-style rear spoiler -- Ebony leather-wrapped interior with Competition Gray trim -- Carbon-fiber fenders and floor panels Corvette Racing fans will recognize the special-edition Z06 as a participant in the Legends of Le Mans event at Laguna Seca in 2010. Driven by Corvette Racing legend Ron Fellows, the Z06 was accompanied by the 1960 Cunningham, the 1967 Bondurant/Guldstrand, the 1973 BF Goodrich and the C6.R GT2 Corvettes for a parade lap on the track.