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

The McLaren 650S is quicker than the legendary McLaren F1

We know what the McLaren 650S looks like thanks to photos that leaked ahead of the Geneva motor show debut, and now we know how the hopped-up, track-oriented take on the MP4 should perform. According to McLaren, the 650S has a 0-62 mph time of just 3.0 seconds. 0-124 mph takes 8.4 seconds; a quarter mile flies by in 10.5 seconds.

Nissan opens new design studio in Beijing

Delayed by the deadly earthquake that hit Japan earlier this year, Nissan Motor Co.'s new design center in Beijing finally received a proper opening this week, when global design chief Shiro Nakamura showed off the studio as a new source of ideas for Nissan and Infiniti. Nissan Design China, as the Beijing-based center is known, "is not a studio to just generate ideas for China," Nakamura said in an interview with Car Design News. It's equipped to handle designs of show cars and production cars for both Nissan and Infiniti brands, aimed at customers in China, as well as around the world.

College Exhibition: Royal College of Art - GE Plasticon project

Postgraduate students at London's Royal College of Art recently presented the results of a multi-disciplinary design project in collaboration with GE Plastics. As part of the 'PLASTicon' project, 17 RCA first year MA students researched, designed and built models of concept vehicles aimed at the needs of different markets - from SUV owners to Gen-Y consumers - utilising the capabilities of plastics. Beginning in December, the students from the Vehicle Design course as well as from Textiles, were split into six teams tasked with conducting research into specific scenarios, including emerging generations and emerging markets to meet specific challenges of today and tomorrow.