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

Merc to revive straight six, plus 4cyl and smaller V8s

Mercedes has just signed off a new engine family which will see most full-sized Mercs in future run four-cylinders, downsized V8s and… straight sixes. A friendly Mercedes engineer recently met CAR to disclose the engine plans for future models, including the surprise disclosure that Merc plans to switch to straight sixes, like its rivals over in Munich.  It's fair to say I almost choked on my breakfast croissant when I found out the details of the next MB engine generation which has just been signed off for release in 2015. Mercedes' future four-cylinder engines Again, there will be a family of new low-cost fours, and the big-bore V8s will be replaced by a series of downsized turbocharged 4.0-litre units.

Iconic to start roadster production

Iconic Motors will begin production of its 2012 AC Roadster in late spring in Detroit, the company said on Tuesday. Iconic says it will build only 100 copies during its first year of production. “We are genuinely excited to begin production on the 2012 Iconic AC Roadster,” Iconic Motors chairman Claudio Ballard said.

Range Rover unveils Evoque SUV

Land Rover has taken the wraps off its new small SUV, the two-door Range Rover Evoque, as it makes a bid to appeal to fashion-conscious urbanites. The Evoque (not to be confused with the Cadillac Evoq concept from 1999) maintains virtually all the styling from the LRX concept that previewed it two years ago. The example shown at a the unveiling in England on Thursday appeared to be slightly smaller than the concept.