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

Renault designers on their interpretation of luxury [w/Video]

Renault's design chief Laurens van den Acker and his design team have stressed how the Initiale Paris concept previews how Renault design's tactics will help steer clear of its rivals within the premium segment.  The concept – the sixth to be developed in the design strategy inspired by the cycle of life, now in the Wisdom stage – heralds Renault's return to the high-end market after a number of years. It was, therefore, important that the design be a positive rejection of traditional ideas of luxury, design director of concept cars Axel Breun believes. Designer Choung Sun Oh goes to great pains to stress how the design team worked towards developing a highly original design to set them apart from rivaling brands upon re-entry.

Mazda RX-8 facelift (2008): first official pictures

By Ben Pulman First Official Pictures 13 January 2008 10:47 Mazda’s facelifted RX-8 arrived at the Detroit Motor Show, and it’s more of a mild nip and tuck than a drastic overhaul. Mazda hasn’t suddenly dropped in a V6 or anything like that – so far over 165,000 rotary-engined RX-8s have been sold and Mazda doesn’t want to mess with a recipe that works. That means it’s still a four-door, four seater with 'Freestyle' (suicide to you and me) doors, and a unchanged 1.3-litre turbine engine available in 189bhp and 228bhp states of tune.

Lowie Vermeersch resigns from Pininfarina

CDN has learned that Lowie Vermeersch has resigned from Pininfarina, where he was Design Director. According to our sources, the Belgian designer has left to pursue other as yet unnamed ventures in the design industry. Vermeersch has been at Pininfarina for the last 12 years, leading the design team that created the new Ferrari 458 as well as the Duettottanta and Sintesi concept cars.