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

Better Place Electric Car visitor centre opens

Better Place have opened a visitor centre in Israel to demonstrate their battery swap technology for electric cars Last October we wrote about a start-up company in Israel – Better Place – that had a new way forward for electric cars by taking the purchase of battery packs out of the equation, and was developing a system for ‘Battery Swap’ stations where electric car owners could drive in and swap their battery pack for a fully-charged one in a few minutes. That story first brought to our attention our favourite quote of last year – by Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn – who said “A hybrid is like a mermaid: if you want a fish, you get a woman; if you want a woman, you get a fish.” Which probably explained why Nissan – and its partner Renault – got involved with Better Place. Better Place aims to address the main concerns of electric car drivers by making the battery packs in electric cars ‘swappable’.

Aston Martin V8 Vantage – 2010 updates

The 2010 Aston Martin V8 Vantage The last round of changes to the Aston Martin V8 Vantage turned it in to what it should have been in the first place – a properly powerful ‘baby’ Aston Martin. So having put things right in a big way last year, Aston Martin are not trumpeting the changes to the V8 Vantage for 2010 from the rooftops, but changes there are. The visual changes include a set of 19″, 10-spoke diamond turned alloys, kevlar and carbon fibre seats, clear tail lights (just like those on the V12 Vantage), a new set of side sills which seem to have been borrowed from the N400, and a Magnun Silver Bonnet and side strakes.

Win a BMW winter driving course with CAR

By Phil McNamara Competitions 16 December 2013 11:30 How exhilarating is it to drift a high-performance BMW M3 on an ice circuit? Or take on punishing, snowy terrain in a BMW 4x4? You can find out for yourself, if you win our competition prize.