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

VR Chevrolet Camaro (2010): the UK's Camaro

By Jonny Smith First Official Pictures 31 October 2009 20:47 When GM uncloaked their Camaro retro remake at the 2006 Detroit auto show, the domestic audience understandably adored it. That muscle car concept is now a showroom reality, but any plans of bringing a right-hook version to South African, Aussie or Brit shores have been quashed – presumably due to low-volume sales and GM’s moth-eaten wallet.Much like a Mustang or Challenger, if you live in Britain and want a Camaro, you have to settle for a specially imported left-hooker. Come January 2010, when these rendered images of the VR Camaro will be a reality, UK customers won’t have to worry about doing any of the importation or UK-spec work.

Porsche announces new Weissach design center and wind tunnel

Porsche is to invest around €150m into its Weissach development facility, including a new design center. The plans also include an electronics integration department and a state-of-the art, on-site wind tunnel, which is hoped will allow the company to realize an holistic approach to efficient design, with a strong focus on aerodynamics. When we spoke with head of Porsche design, Michael Mauer, at this year's Paris motor show, he also alluded to the fact that the Volkswagen Group's – and, more specifically, Walter de'Silva's – recent influence on the German manufacturer was shifting its attitudes: "The Volkswagen Group has a very good understanding of how much freedom a brand needs to keep its characteristics and with [Walter] as 'conductor', I feel a lot of support with design issues within the company," explained Mauer.

Volkswagen E-Bugster

The Volkswagen E-Bugster concept is a show car preview of the upcoming Beetle cabriolet. The E-Bugster is essentially the same Beetle that debuted at the Shanghai Auto Show last year below its beltline but above it a more steeply raked and shallower windscreen determine its new character. This, in combination with the hard top fitted to the show car creates a silhouette 400mm lower than the standard car, giving it a hint of SoCal speedster.