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

Ford debuts another Australian hot rod

Ford's Australian-based Performance Vehicles operation has unveiled its fastest car to date—the Falcon-based FPV GT R-spec. To be assembled at Ford Performance Vehicle's headquarters on the outskirts of Melbourne, the rear-wheel drive GT R-spec packs the same engine as the earlier GT335, a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 producing 449 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque. But, a range of chassis modifications, including a retuned suspension, wider 19-inch rear wheels and tires and new launch control system are claimed to provide the greater off-the-line speed than any previous model from Ford's Australian outpost.

625 cars per day found to be insurance write-offs

ONE IN EVERY 33 vehicles given a history check is found to be an insurance write-off, according to data gathered by HPI. In 2012 one in 33 vehicles checked by HPI was an insurance total loss – otherwise known as a write-off. This equates to 625 cars a day or over 223,000 cars per year being dangerously repaired and sold on to unsuspecting consumers.

Vauxhall Astra GTC unveiled

The Vauxhall Astra GTC Concept - Paris debut Vauxhall teased the next edition of the new Astra – the three-door Astra – last month ahead of a reveal at the Paris Motor Show in a few weeks. But with just over three weeks to go to Paris we now get much more detail on the Vauxhall Astra GTC Concept. And it looks to us as if Vauxhall are going to stick with the GTC moniker for the production car, so this Concept may well be very close to the final production car.