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

Mercedes SL facelift (2008): first official pictures

By Ged Maxwell First Official Pictures 23 January 2008 10:20 With inspiration apparently coming from the stunning 1954 Gullwing, this is Mercedes' facelifted SL. With a new entry-level engine, Merc's clever Airscarf system, and a different front end, this second and final facelift should see the SL through until the next decade. That new nose is the most obvious change.

UK Budget 2011: the outcome for motorists

UK chancellor George Osborne announced the 2011 budget today - which includes fuel duty cuts and changes to car tax that will affect every motorist in the land. 2011 Budget changes to fuel duty The Government will cut 1p in fuel duty, effective from 6.00pm tonight. Osborne said the fuel tax cut was designed to offset rising fuel prices, which have burdened every driver with higher bills. And the current inflation-linked 'fuel price escalator', established by the previous Government, has been abolished. Further fuel duty rises in line with inflation have been deferred until 1 January 2012. The planned 1 April 2012 fuel duty rise will be deferred to 1 August 2012.

Michelin Challenge Design 2007: The not so ugly truth about rising vehicle safety standards

Can cars be safe and beautiful at the same time? That may not have been the case a few decades ago when automakers were forced to hang those big, ugly so-called federal bumpers off the ends of their vehicles.  With vehicle safety standards on the rise around the globe are designers today feeling a little '70s deja vu when it comes to meeting the challenges of making cars safe as well as more fuel efficient? "(Back then) we said it was the end of automotive styling," says Patrick Le Quement, senior vice president for corporate design at Renault and one of the world's most influential automotive designers.