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

Land Rover Defender Challenge by Bowler – the Defender goes rallying

The Land Rover Defender goes rallying (pictured) with Bowler modifications The venerable Land Rover Defender – now reaching the end of its shelf life – may not seem the perfect rally car. But a Defender tweaked and fettled with some Bowler Fairy Dust is another matter, and that’s exactly what’s happening with a new, one-make Defender Challenge by Bowler – and backed by Land Rover – which is aiming to put up to fifteen Defenders in to UK forest stage rallies and hill rallies in 2014. The Defender in question is a Defender 90 Hard Top with the usual 2.2 litre diesel, but sorted by Bowler to deliver 170bhp and 323lb/ft of torque (up from the regular 122bhp/266lb/ft) with a standard six-speed manual ‘box, MSA roll cage, fire extinguisher and Khumo tyres.

Car Design Awards China 2012 winners announced

The third annual Car Design Awards China competition came to an end earlier this evening as the winners of the 10 categories were announced along with the nomination for 2012 Student Designer of the Year - Xiao Hangjie, a student at Hunan University. The awards ceremony was held at the studios of CH-Auto in Beijing in the presence of an audience of renowned designers and judges from both domestic and international OEMs, with esteemed designer Chris Bangle acting as master of ceremonies. At the concluding judging session held in Beijing in March, one of the judges, Simon Loasby, Director of Design at VW China, said, "It was so difficult for us to decide on a winner, the entrants were so strong.

Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 (2010) first official pictures

This is the Mercedes SLS AMG GT3, a racing version of Merc's incredible Gullwing supercar. Unveiled today at the 2010 New York auto show, it'll start racing in 2011. Correct – the FIA’s GT3 races are designed for ‘near-series’ cars so costs are kept low, and there’s a burgeoning field with everything from R8s and 911s to BMW’s new Z4 racer.