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

Aston Martin won’t be proclaiming ‘Powered by AMG’ on its Mercedes-engined cars

Aston Martin won’t be using ‘Powered by AMG’ badges It was a long time coming, but Aston Martin finally found a way to replace their ageing engines by doing a deal with Mercedes AMG to use their very impressive powerplants. And it seems that, depite AMG’s willingness to provide Aston Martin with modern engines, AML aren’t going to be required to put AMG badges on the bodywork or engines of their very beautiful cars. Speaking to Autocar, Mercedes boss Dieter Zetsche said that Mercedes were very happy to have done a deal with AML and equally as happy to be subtle about the arrangement.

Call for ban on in-car hands-free phones

Road safety charity Brake is calling for a blanket ban on in-car hands-free phone systems. Using a hand-held phone while driving is already illegal in the UK, so a proposal to prohibit even hands-free kits would completely eradicate calling from behind the wheel. On Bing: see pictures of people using mobile phones while driving 1 in 3 use mobile phone behind the wheel A decade on from when the mobile phone ban was introduced, Brake is asking the government to assess its policy on all forms of telephone communication while driving.

Mazda 3, Mazda 6 get customized for the SEMA Show

We like the look of Mazda's current lineup, from the basic 2 to the sleek 6. Kodo design language has a lot to do with it -- Mazda North American Operations design director Derek Jenkins says that, thanks that Kodo styling, "the Zoom-Zoom genetic code is further being embraced, not buried, through increasingly expressive vehicle design." (Ugh.-ED) We didn't know genetics had anything to do with it, but hey -- tough to argue with the results. Perhaps Kodo's effectiveness is why Mazda's SEMA show concepts are fairly...restrained compared to what other automakers are bringing to Las Vegas.