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

Pace cadets: At AMG academy, students take their finals with their right feet

Mercedes-Benz USA launched the AMG Challenge in 2002, a program touted as "a chance to experience the thrill of driving the newest Mercedes AMGs on some of America's best racetracks." This year, MBUSA abandoned the Challenge in favor of the AMG Driving Academy, a multistage driver-development program pioneered by AMG in Europe. The difference? According to Greg Clark, AMG manager, "the Challenge was more about the cars, while the Academy is more about the driver." Having participated in both the Challenge and now the Academy, we'd say that difference is subtle, at least as it applies to the one-day program.

2014 VW Passat Executive and Executive Style revealed

2014 VW Passat Executive and Executive Style revealed Volkswagen has decided that buyers of the Passat – not exactly the best-selling car in the VW range – want some extra toys on their new Passat, so they’re introducing two new trim levels for 2014. The new trim levels – executive and Executive Style – sit above the entry-level Passat S and BlueMotion and bring extra goodies for not a lot more money than the Highline trim it replaces. The Passat executive comes with 17″ Michigan alloys, extra chrome, matt black roof rails (on the Estate), VW’s RNS 315 touchscreen SatNav, Vienna leather, heated front seats, electric driver’s seat, Climate, auto lights and wipers, Cruise and rear parking sensors.

New Lancia Stratos – the Video

The old and the new - Lancia Stratos, that is. We had lots of internet hoo-haa and speculation this summer that we were about to get the rebirth of the iconic Lancia Stratos, which we struggled to swallow. Even when we managed to grab a photo of the new Lancia Stratos out testing, we weren’t convinced this was a secret Fiat plan to revive the Stratos.