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

2014 European Car of the Year shortlist announced

Established in 1964, the European Car of the Year award was set up to celebrate a “single, decisive winner” each year among all new cars in Europe. So, now running into its fiftieth year, the shortlist for the landmark half-century award for the European Car of the Year 2014 has been announced. The seven runners and riders boast among them an interesting and varied mix of bodystyles, shapes, sizes and even powertrains.

Aston Martin Rapide S: The video

Ahead of the media launch of the Aston Martin Rapide S in Spain, Aston Martin has delivered a Rapide S video to pique interest. Now we have the arrival of the Aston Martin Rapide S as a replacement for the Rapide, which goes a similar route to the DB9 with a more a aggressive attitude and more power. Aston Martin revealed the Rapide S in January in an effort to inject some oomph in to Rapide sales – as a replacement for the Rapide and not as an ‘S’ model to sit above it – bestowing it with 550bhp instead of the Rapide’s 470bhp, chucking in a new grill and boot spoiler and a set of the Gen 4 tweaks like adaptive dampers.

Volvo to shake up S, V, C and XC badges

Volvo will overhaul its naming system in the coming years - removing some of the uncertainty over odd numbers in the same range, such as the S40 and V50.Chief executive Stephen Odell today admitted he found Volvo's badges confusing when he first joined Volvo two years ago. 'When I arrived at Volvo I struggled to understand the nomenclature,' he admitted. 'Yes, we will be changing it.'Under the new naming system, the S40 and V50 would carry the same number.