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

Car production increases again

THE SOCIETY of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said UK manufacturers built 91,282 cars in August, up 16.2%, or 12,705, on the same period in 2012, leaving year-to-date volumes 3.1% ahead of 2012, at 984,545. The figures showed 20,298 cars were made for the home market this year, up 21.1%, while 70,984 were for export, up 14.8%. SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: "The past 12-months has been one of the most productive since late 2008." Samuel Tombs, of consultancy Capital Economics, said the CBI figures showed the manufacturing sector "continuing to go from strength to strength".

2012 Ford Focus ST: Paris Motor Show 2010

The 2012 Ford Focus ST gets an early showing at Paris Yes, it may be at least a year before the 2012 Ford Focus ST launches, but that’s not going to stop Ford shouting about it. And what better place to shout than in the place the car world is centred on for the next week or two – the Paris Motor Show. But really, there’s not that much new to say.

Ford Focus Facelift price and spec – costs from £13,995

The new Ford Focus will be in dealers in November 2014 The facelift for the Ford Focus was revealed back in February, but only now are Ford getting their act together with prices and specifications, and the new Focus won’t be in Ford’s UK showrooms until November. Key changes for the new Focus include the new family grill (well, the ‘Aston’ family grill), some tweaks to the lights and alloys and a less cluttered, more upmarket interior, new engines and chassis changes. Ford has retained the same model line-up for the new Focus – and the same starting price – with the Focus Studio ((from £13,995), Style (£16,795), Zetec (£18,295), Zetec S (£20,045), Titanium (£19,795) and Titanium X (£21,795) which means the starting price stays the same and the top-end Titanium models drop by £100.