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

Four in 10 'driving damaged cars'

MORE THAN four in 10 UK motorists admit they are getting behind the wheel of vehicles that are damaged, according to shocking new research from Kwik Fit. From chipped windscreens to balding tyres, the 43% figure equates to more than 16 million cars on UK roads with potentially dangerous faults or damages. Damaged body work is the most common vehicle issue, as cited by over half (56%) of all motorists who admitted to driving damaged cars.

Aston Martin Rapide S: The video

Ahead of the media launch of the Aston Martin Rapide S in Spain, Aston Martin has delivered a Rapide S video to pique interest. Now we have the arrival of the Aston Martin Rapide S as a replacement for the Rapide, which goes a similar route to the DB9 with a more a aggressive attitude and more power. Aston Martin revealed the Rapide S in January in an effort to inject some oomph in to Rapide sales – as a replacement for the Rapide and not as an ‘S’ model to sit above it – bestowing it with 550bhp instead of the Rapide’s 470bhp, chucking in a new grill and boot spoiler and a set of the Gen 4 tweaks like adaptive dampers.

Mercedes A45 AMG (2013) first pictures of new hot hatch

This is the Mercedes A45 AMG: the first time Merc’s in-house tuning arm has tried its hand at building a hot hatch. Packing 355bhp, all-wheel drive and a seven-speed dual-clutch paddleshift transmission, the A45 AMG will outpace a Porsche 911, but cost less than £40,000. It’s on UK sale from July 2013, but if you can’t wait that long, Merc’s baby barnstormer is appearing at the Geneva motor show from 5 March 2013.