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

Exclusive: Laurens van den Acker to replace Patrick le Quément at Renault

The wheels of change are continuing to turn within the automotive design industry, with yet another new appointment being made at the director level. According to industry insiders, Laurens van den Acker is set become the new Design Director at Renault when Patrick le Quément retires later this year. One of the most pre-eminent car designers in the world, Patrick le Quément began his design career at Simca, worked at Ford for 17 years and did a brief stint at Volkswagen before taking the top design job at Renault.

One Lap of the Web: Famous Porsches at auction, Smokey the Aventador and classic snow cars

Here's a tip: If you're going to have a rev battle with a collection of Lamborghini Aventador supercars, keep clear of flammable foliage. Better yet, don't participate in something lame like a rev battle. If you're in a part of the country that's recently been socked by winter weather, don't think you have to put away the classic car: Hagerty Insurance lists five old cars that make great winter drivers.

Lexus RC F & RC F Carbon price and specs – costs from £59,995

The Lexus RC F (pictured) costs from £59,995 The Lexus RC F Coupe arrived earlier this year at the Detroit Motor Show and now, following the end of IS F production to make way for it, the RC F is going on sale in the UK, with prices starting at £59,995. Whether the RC F offers enough to prove a challenge to the BMW M4 remains to be seen, but on paper it all looks very promising – and good-looking. In the UK, the RC F will come in two guises – RC F and RC F Carbon – with both models getting the same 5.0 litre V8 with ‘more than’ 450bhp and 383lb/ft of torque driven to the back wheels through an eight-speed Sports Direct Shift gearbox.