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

Italian Government buys 19 Maserati Quattroporte. Crisis? What crisis?

A Maserati Quattroporte for Don Berlusconi? As we had cause to mention recently, the Italians are a stylish bunch. Which would explain why the Italian Government has decided to replace its fleet of Lancia Thesis and Audi A6s with a properly stylish Italian car – the Maserati Quattroporte.

Mercedes proves E-Class hybrid tech with unusual test

IN AN impressive display of performance and economy, Mercedes-Benz has completed a lengthy test of its new E300 Bluetech Hybrid saloon by driving it almost the length of the country on a single tank of fuel with a flat-out speed test at either end. With ex-rally driver Mick Linford at the wheel the standard production E300 Bluetech Hybrid began with a full tank of fuel at Newquay Cornwall Airport, the most southerly airport in mainland Britain. Down the main runway it completed an acceleration test to past 62mph from rest in a little over seven seconds and reached 136mph before braking for the end of the runway.

Mercedes-Benz to cut production time, halve number of vehicle architectures

Mercedes-Benz is restructuring its global production network to cut the average production time for its models to 30 hours by 2015 from 43 in 2008. "We have increased productivity by 2 percent a year over the last few years. We will be accelerating our productivity efforts," Mercedes production boss Wolfgang Bernhard said during an investor conference that was part of the automaker's plant opening in Kecskemet, Hungary, on Thursday.