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

Car production increases again

THE SOCIETY of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said UK manufacturers built 91,282 cars in August, up 16.2%, or 12,705, on the same period in 2012, leaving year-to-date volumes 3.1% ahead of 2012, at 984,545. The figures showed 20,298 cars were made for the home market this year, up 21.1%, while 70,984 were for export, up 14.8%. SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: "The past 12-months has been one of the most productive since late 2008." Samuel Tombs, of consultancy Capital Economics, said the CBI figures showed the manufacturing sector "continuing to go from strength to strength".

New smart fortwo electric drive enters production

Mercedes has announced that the third generation 2012 smart fortwo electric drive has gone in to production. Mercedes may, very sensibly, be pursuing hydrogen fuel cells as the real future of motoring but they still have an eye on electric cars as urban runarounds. That urban EV takes shape as the Smart EV, and the third generation smart fortwo ED (electric drive) debuted at the Geneva Motor Show in March and has now gone in to production.

Porsche Panamera Shooting Brake Estate Concept at Paris?

It looks like Porsche will be showing a concept estate version of the Panamera at Paris – perhaps the Porsche Panamera Shooting Brake? The rumours that Porsche are preparing an estate version of the Panamera for the Paris Motor Show in September are gathering pace, and it now seems almost certain there will be a Panamera Shooting Brake Concept to upset Porsche purists when the Paris Motor Show opens on 27th September. Although the Panamera Estate Concept is highly probable, it seems likely any production car is some way off – probably 2015 at the earliest – before which we’ll see the Panamera get a facelift (which could arrive at Paris too) and even a Panamera Coupe and convertible on a shortened wheelbase.