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

AutoWeek office swag: Mazda rotary-engine keychain with realistic motion

When I got the keys to our long-term 2011 Mazda 5 last week, they came with a surprise--this aluminum-and-brass keychain in the shape of a rotary-engine housing, complete with moving rotor. The rotor doesn't just rattle around or spin in a circle. Thanks to a thumbwheel on the back of the housing, coupled with a timing gear and offset crank journal, the thing actually moves in an approximation of epitrochoidal motion just like a real Wankel.

Who's Where: Lorenzo Ramaciotti appointed Chief of Design for Fiat Group

Starting June 1, 2007 Lorenzo Ramaciotti will become the new Group Chief of Design at Fiat Group Automobiles. Ramaciotti was snatched up by Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne and convinced to head the company's design direction, filling a newly created position that hasn't previously existed at Fiat. Lorenzo Ramaciotti, who retired from Pininfarina in June 2005 after working for the famed coachbuilder for 32 years, will be responsible for all the Fiat Group brands, including Alfa Romeo, Lancia and Maserati.

So what exactly does it cost to service a McLaren MP4-12C?

McLaren MP4-12C - almost affordable servicing With the McLaren MP4-12C now in the wild, and some of the first cars getting towards their first service, we thought we ought to have a look at what the new McLaren will cost to maintain. For a variety of reasons, today has been about chatting to a number of McLaren MP4-12C owners (more on that another day) and one chap who’s bought a 458 Italia instead of McLaren because the servicing is free. Yes, in case you didn’t know, Ferrari now throw in free, unlimited mileage servicing for 7 years on the 458 (and all new Ferraris), and it’s transferable to subsequent owners too.