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

Off the line: Fun cars and social responsibility Autoweek op-ed stands the test of time

It's been almost 21 years to the day that Autoweek printed Matt DeLorenzo's column “Off the Line: There's room for fast, fun cars in diet of social responsibility.” And in those two decades plus, not much has changed except the vehicles themselves. For example, sports cars like the Bugatti Veyron and Pagani Huayra have astronomically high performance and safety levels; similarly, sport-utility vehicles that haul entire families (and most of their earthly possessions) achieve fuel economy similar to that of 1970s midsize sedans. To read all of DeLorenzo's thoughts and his case for automobiles, click the links to download the article.

Land Rover Defender to return to U.S.

Land Rover will bring the redesigned Defender SUV to the United States as its entry-level vehicle, said Ralf Speth, CEO of Jaguar Land Rover. The Defender could debut as early as 2015 and will be based on the DC100 concept shown at the 2011 Frankfurt auto show. The rugged Defender is currently sold in overseas markets and was last sold here in 1997.

Jean Bugatti's final project realized 73 years after his death

Legendary designer Jean Buggati's final unfinished project has finally been realized by the Mullin Automotive Museum, 73 years after his death. The Southern Californian Museum is devoted to the preservation of French art and automobiles from the Art Deco era, and has announced that the 1939 Bugatti Type 64 Coupe Chassis #64002 project is nearing completion. The museum – alongside Stewart Reed Design of Pasadena and Automobile Metal Shaping Company of Michigan – has added the swooping coupé body to the original chassis based on sketches left unfinished by Bugatti at the time of his death in 1939.