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

McLaren launches Special Operations unit for customers' custom requests

British sports-car maker McLaren has launched its Special Operations unit, which will help the company's well-heeled buyers customize their cars. McLaren previewed some handiwork from the new division at this year's Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, with a custom example of the MP4-12C. The customized sports car had a variety of carbon-fiber trim upgrades and special treatment such as unique orange paintwork, a gloss-black roof, diamond-cut-finish wheels with gloss-back inners, 12C-branded carbon sill panels, a carbon steering wheel and carbon-fiber cover vents for the engine.

Concept Car of the Week: Matra Laser (1971)

Founded in 1937, French company Matra began its activities by manufacturing military equipment such as aeronautics and weaponry. In the mid ‘60s, under Jean-Luc Lagardere's ambitious direction, the company bought Automobiles Rene Bonnet to expand its portfolio with street and racing cars. The first model solely developed by Matra was the bonkers, but brilliant, 1967 M530, which took its name from the company's surface-to-air missile the R530.

Jaguar X-Type: 18,000 X-Types recalled in the UK

Jaguar X-Type Recall - almost 18k affected over possible cruise control malfunction The Jaguar X-Type, ‘Ford’ Jaguar’s stab at mopping up sales from BMW’s 3 Series and Mercedes’ C Class, is back in the headlines, with Jaguar issuing a recall for 18,000 X-Types in the UK – around 5 per cent of the total X-Type production. The cars affected are diesel-engined X-Type models made between 2006 and the end of X-Type production in late 2009, and the recall concerns the cruise control, which may not respond under certain circumstances. To be fair to Jaguar, the issue with the cruise control failing to respond has not come to light through any complaints from owners, but from an employee of Jaguar.