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

Land Rover confirms end of Defender production

It's been all but a foregone conclusion for some time now, but Land Rover has confirmed to our sister publication Automotive News Europe that the aging Defender won't live to see 2020. Originally conceived as an agricultural machine, the first Land Rover prototype used scavenged Willys Jeep bits left over from World War II. American kids of a certain age may have been captivated by the Land Rover's mystique while watching Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom back in the '70s.

Ford Focus goes SEMA mad

A total of seven Ford Focus at the 2011 SEMA Show There’s nothing American petrolheads (perhaps we should say gearheads) like more than tarting up a car. Which explains why the relatively sensible Ford Focus is being pimped to within an inch of its life for this year’s SEMA show. The SEMA Motor Show is a trade-only gathering – despite which it gets around 50k visitors – which the organisers call the “premier automotive specialty products trade event – in the world.” It attracts trade visitors from across the globe to see parts, tools and components and the ‘SEMA’ special cars brought along by car makers and car modifiers.

New Audi S6 and S6 Avant (2012) Frankfurt Preview

New Audi S6 and S6 Avant (2012) at Frankfurt Frankfurt 2011 is going to be something of an Audi ‘S’ Fest, with four new 2012 ‘S’ models making a début, including these – the Audi S6 and the Audi S6 Avant. There’s little to choose between the S6 and S6 Avant in performance terms, just as you’d expect, with both cars featuring Audi’s new 4.0 litre TFSI V8 with 420bhp and 406lb/ft of torque (that’s the same V8 we will see in the Bentley Continental GT – and probably at Frankfurt too). That’s enough to take the S6 to 62mph in just 4.8 seconds, with the S6 Avant just the smallest bit behind at 4.9 seconds, and on to an electronically governed 155mph.