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

Porsche uses phone-formatted bar codes to connect with customers

Porsche is harnessing the power of smartphones, using Microsoft Tag bar codes to provide dealership customers with unique information about the cars they're looking at. Buyers can scan the square stickers with a properly equipped phone, and the application will take them to dedicated microsites where they can see stats, videos and pictures of the car, along with audio clips of a flat-six engine revving up. Through the microsite, buyers can provide contact info for a follow-up call from Porsche salespeople.

Bernie Ecclestone's daughter buys pricey house in Los Angeles

After nearly three years, Candy Spelling has finally found a buyer for her Los Angeles mansion (which some would call a castle)--the daughter of Formula One commercial boss Bernie Ecclestone. Petra Ecclestone, 22, will be the new owner of the 57,000-square-foot home in Holmby Hills, according to the Wall Street Journal. Spelling was asking $150 million for the joint, which puts it among the most expensive homes in the country, according to the newspaper.

New Lotus Esprit still on schedule

The new Lotus Esprit - on schedule for launch in 2011 or 2012 The next Elise will probably be a development of the existing car, rather than anything radical and new. But the Esprit will be an all new V8 based on the new Evora chassis. It will be longer and wider than the Evora, but will still feature a mid-mounted engine and, in all probability, come as a convertible in time.