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

Design Contest: LA Design Challenge 2008

The entrants for the fifth annual Design Challenge, part of the Design Los Angeles automobile designers' conference, have now been announced. Nine Southern California automotive design studios - including Audi, BMW, GM, Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota and Volkswagen - have been pitted against one another and asked to develop a concept which best answers a brief entitled 'Motorsports in 2025'. "Automotive designers have always been fascinated with motorsports and this year's Design Challenge has provided them with the opportunity to use their creative talent to look at these cars with new eyes, using innovative technologies and approaches," said Chuck Pelly, director of Design Los Angeles and partner in The Design Academy, Inc.

Renault to unveil Alpine-branded concept car at Monaco GP

Renault is set to unveil an Alpine-branded concept car at this weekend's Monaco Grand Prix. The A110-50 – so named to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the oh-so-pretty A110 rally car – is clearly a development of the 2010 DeZir concept car although with only one leaked image to analyze, it's difficult to know by what amount it has changed. Clearly it has been subjected to the addition of a myriad of additional details, surfaces, inlets, outlets and various pieces of racing addenda however that, on the little evidence we have, appear to have added drama to the detriment of the refreshingly non-aggressive nature of the DeZir.

2015 Nissan 370Z Nismo facelift revealed

2015 Nissan 370Z Nismo facelift revealed It’s only a year or so since the new Nissan 370Z Nismo arrived in the UK, but Nissan is already rolling out a new and improved version. The cosmetic tweaks are the usual fodder of a new front bumper – which takes its cues from the GT-R – new LED running lights, red highlights for the vents, new side sills and door mirrors and a smaller spoiler than before. On the inside, the changes amount to red and black leather, Alcantara and a new set of Recaros.