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

Biker attempts to beat London marathon record... in traffic

AS BRITISH favourite Mo Farah prepares to challenge the British record at the London Marathon this weekend, an enterprising biker has decided to try it himself – in the thick of London traffic. On closed roads a man vs machine race would be a bit one-sided, but with the average speed of a fast marathon runner being 12.43mph and the average speed of a motorbike in London traffic being 12.5mph, the result turned out not to be so clear-cut – the biker missing out on the record by a full five minutes. Using the same BMW F800GS Adventure as is loaned to the marathon organisers, Michael Mann of online community Bike Social followed the route as closely as possible, albeit with a few extra loops where the runners will take advantage of closed one-way streets.

BMW concept X5 eDrive hybrid to debut at 2013 Frankfurt Show

BMW has released details of a new ultra-efficient prototype version of its X5 off-roader. Called the concept X5 eDrive, the plug-in hybrid SUV will make its world debut at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show next month. It seems as though Frankfurt 2013 is going to be a battle of the luxury hybrids, with the Mercedes-Benz S500 Plug-in Hybrid and the Range Rover hybrid both making their first appearances in Germany, too.

Chevrolet Orlando (2011) first official pictures

This is the face of Chevrolet's new Orlando, a seven-seat MPV which will take on the likes of Ford's S-Max and the Mazda 5. The Orlando is based on GM's Delta platform which has already given birth to the latest Vauxhall Astra, and of course, Chevrolet's own Cruze. Not this time.