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

Maintenance 'favours' end up costing more

GETTING help from family, neighbours or friends for basic car maintenance tasks costs the UK public an estimate £300million a year, according to a new survey. Over 2,000 people were surveyed on behalf of Halfords Autocentres and one in six said they regretted asking for help in the first place. 45% who subsequently had to pay a professional to rectify mistakes were left with a bill in excess of £100.

Petrolhead spiders cause Mazda recall

Mazda has had to recall 42,000 vehicles in the US after it emerged that a species of spider had been weaving webs in fuel vent hoses, increasing the risk of fuel leaks and fires. The yellow sac spider’s curious domestic activities cause a build-up of pressure in the evaporative fuel vent that – in theory at least – could result in a cracked fuel tank and therefore an increased risk of fire. This isn’t the first time that the Mazda 6 has received the unwanted advances of a gas-guzzling arachnid, either – three years ago Mazda had to recall over 50,000 cars for precisely the same reason.

Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport (2010) first pictures

Lots of people haven't bought a Bugatti Veyron for many reasons - chiefly cost - but for the few who found the Bugatti supercar too slow, this is the answer: the Veyron 16.4 Super Sport, aka the World's Fastest Car. Whereas previous limited-edition Veyrons such as the all-black Sang Noir made do with cosmetic changes, the Super Sport Bugatti has done a lot more than just give it a new lick of paint. Out go the large overhead air scoops, replaced by deep air ducts.