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

How safe are new minicars?

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) recently tested a total of 11 minicars in its relatively new small-overlap crash test, and the Chevrolet Spark was the only one to earn an Acceptable rating. The small-overlap crash test was instituted in 2012 with the goal of better replicating real-life car crashes, most of which don't follow the pattern of traditional government crash tests. Instead of a car hitting a stationary object with 100 percent of its front making contact, the small-overlap test examines how a car behaves in a frontal impact at 40 mph where only a quarter of the car's front hits an object.

2013 Nissan GT-R gets a tweak

Nissan has had a play with the GT-R for 2013 with suspension upgrades, sharper responses and a more comfortable ride. On the performance front, the 2013 model year Nissan GT-R gets a set of new high-output injectors which give more concise control to fuel for better mid range and high rev response, a new relief valve for the turbocharger bypass cuts the decrease of pressure to sustain response and a new oil pan baffle helps maintain oil pressure. On the handling front Nissan has revised dampers, springs and the front anti-roll bar to lower the centre of gravity, new cam bolts on the front suspension improve accuracy and the torque carrying capacity of the driveshaft to hub bearings has been increased to you can attack a track more reliably.

Lincoln to replace waterfall grille

Love it or hate it, Lincoln's waterfall grille is on the way out, according to sources familiar with plans for the updated MKS sedan and MKT crossover coming next spring. One source said the MKS and MKT grille will be "completely different" from the current grille, which has been controversial. He said the new grille is "not as pronounced" as the waterfall and "more elegant." Ford might show the revised MKS and MKT at the Los Angeles auto show in November, says a Ford source.