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

Aston Martin LOST £24.6 million in 2012

The Aston Martin Vanquish (pictured) launch in 2012 contributed to AML’s losses We reported just the other day that Aston Martin had axed the Cygnet after woeful sales, and it’s not just the Cygnet that hasn’t been selling well. In fact, Aston Martin sales in 2012 – 67,500 units – was still 42,500 down on its pre-recession sales levels of 110,000 cars in 2007 and that lead to yet another loss. Aston Martin has posted pre-tax losses for 2012 of £24,6 million on sales of £461.2 million for 2012, a worsening position over 2011 which saw losses of £21.2 million.

Geneva Show 2014: High Performance XF Wagon Roars Into Geneva

ORIGINALLY launched as a luxurious but sensible premium estate car, it was always a matter of when not if the stylish XF Sportbrake would receive Jaguar’s famed high performance makeover. The Brit car maker has exceeded expectations, as the newly christened XFR-S Sportbrake packs a considerable 542 horsepower from a supercharged 5.0-litre V8 petrol engine. Tweaks to the regular car’s suspension, steering and transmission help it reach 60mph from rest in a blistering 4.6 seconds and top out at an electronically limited 186mph.

Parents 'taxi drivers' for their children

PARENTS spend around six months of their lives playing taxi driver for their children, a poll has found. A new survey claims that the average mum and dad clocks up around 30 miles a week ferrying their youngster to school, to clubs and to see friends, spending around three-and-a-half hours in the car. It means that the average parent racks up around 26,741 miles driving their child around between the ages of three and 20, and spends around 3,147 hours behind the wheel, according to Goodyear, which commissioned the poll.