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

Approved mechanics essential for quality service

DRIVERS need to make sure their car is being properly serviced by a qualified mechanic, says the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI). To help drives do this, it has launched a government-backed scheme called the Professional Register. While there are around 175,000 people in the UK who call themselves automotive technicians, the IMI says it can only recommend around 27,000 as having the required skills and competence to carry out work to the required standard in their specialism.

Porsche Macan caught on video

The Porsche Macan – a Porsche Cayenne on a boil wash – has been spied out testing and caught on video. We’ve seen spy photos of the Porsche Macan before – Porsche’s take on the Audi Q5 – and they look more like a cut down Cayenne being used as a mule for the Macan’s underpinnings than an actual Macan. But it seems that the shots so far are actually the Macan as it’s heading for production, which means Porsche has, perhaps unsurprisingly, chosen the 911 school of car design as its inspiration for the Macan and just stuck a Cayenne on a boil wash.

Jaguar XJ75 Platinum Concept (2010) first pictures

By Tim Pollard First Official Pictures 16 August 2010 09:28 Jaguar showed off a bespoke XJ at this weekend's Pebble Beach concours d'elegance. The XJ75 Platinum Concept is the latest in a string of 75th anniversary show cars and is designed to demonstrate 'the design customisation potential' of the latest XJ - hinting at further derivatives to follow.What, you mean a new Jaguar XJR?Well, that's one interpretation. The XJ75 Platinum is based on the 464bhp 5.0-litre V8 XJL Supercharged (a US market trim with fewer horses than the full-fat UK 503bhp edition Supercharged) but adds lower front, rear and side trim panels and 22in wheels.