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

Nissan-designed Santa’s sleigh

By Tim Pollard First Official Pictures 17 December 2008 14:30 Canadian designer Martin Uhlarik penned Nissan’s sleigh, which dispenses with reindeer altogether and can be used instead in conjunction with a rather faster steed, a Nissan GT-R. It’s quickly apparent that Nissan’s SC01 sledge will have a much greater load capacity than rival designs – and we’d certainly pull over fast if we saw this in our rear-view mirrors. Uhlarik is project design leader at Nissan’s Paddington design centre in London and was senior exterior designer on the Qashqai+2 and NV200 concept.

TVR Griffith gathering set for June 24-26 at Mid-Ohio

If our story last month on the TVR Griffith whet your appetite for these rare Brits, set your nav system for the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, and be there June 24-26. The Griffith Motorcar Club International will be hosting Richard “Dick” Monnich, the first TVR importer in the United States and the catalyst for the Ford 289-powered TVR Griffith, as part of the fifth-annual Gathering of Griffiths & TVRs. Event organizer and former Griffith factory test driver Mike Mooney claims all three Griffith body styles will be present, along with a British-produced TVR 500.

Alfa Romeo 4C

The production version of the Alfa Romeo 4C will make its debut at next month's Geneva motor show, two years after the concept appeared. Largely unchanged from the prototype, the 4C retains its mid-engined layout, short and wide proportions (less than 4,000mm long, 2,000mm wide, 1,180mm high and a 2,400mm wheelbase) and broadly similar surfacing. The changes appear to be more focused around productionized details.