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

2010 Lincoln MKZ gets more power, noise insulation

For 2010, Lincoln hopes to lure more entry midsize-luxury shoppers to its fold with increased optional content and improved performance in the revised MKZ. The 3.5-liter V6 is unchanged with its 263 hp, but the six-speed automatic transmission with manually selectable gears is new. Thanks to lower early gears, the '10 MKZ slashes its 0-to-60-mph time from 7.7 seconds to 7.1 seconds over the outgoing model.

Opel Ampera preview

Opel has released a teaser sketch of its new five-door extended-range electric car ahead of its public debut at the Geneva Auto Show in March. Based on the Voltec powertrain and chassis architecture of Chevrolet's Volt, the Ampera promises to surpass that car in terms of style by some margin. The body appears to be nearly identical between the A- and C-pillars, but the deformed horseshoe-shaped headlamp design and two-bar grille come straight from the 2007 Flextreme concept, as do the car's tree-branch alloy wheels.

SAIC's Mobiliant wins 2013 LA Design Challenge

SAIC has been revealed as the winner of this year's LA Design Challenge. The Chinese carmaker's entry, a single-seat urban public transit vehicle, was declared the victor after intense judging sessions took place throughout the LA auto show's second press day. The panel – which included Tom Matano, executive director, School of Industrial Design at San Francisco's Academy of Art University, and Stewart Reed, chair of Transportation Design at Pasadena's Art Center College of Design – combed through the entries, discussing their merits and how closely they fit the brief, before hearing the teams' presentations in the afternoon.