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

New Mercedes CLA helps Daimler to 16% profit jump

The new Mercedes CLA (pictured) help Mercedes to a 16% profit jump. There’s an argument that the move in to more compact car sales by premium car makers will see their turnover rise and their profits fall as more compact cars tend to work on smaller margins than high-end luxury cars. But Mercedes has defied that logic by posting a 16 per cent increase in profits for the third quarter of 2013, boosted by sales of the new compact coupé – the Mercedes CLA.

Travis Pastrana spoofs his DC Shoes boss Ken Block in new video

We love a little friendly interteam rivalry--especially when it involves driver Travis Pastrana and his boss at DC Shoes, Ken Block. Gymkhana ace Block released a video in February featuring his new livery for the DC Shoes WRC Ford Fiesta and his 2011 schedule of events. The hard-rock-and-techno-scored video shows Block in race gear, with his car and a few femme fatales in black vinyl and other DC gear.

Jaguar cool in white at L.A. Auto Show with C-X16 & XKR-S Convertible

Jaguar at the LA Auto Show with a brace of white cats Jaguar may not be going to the Detroit Motor Show in January (forsaking it for Delhi) but it’s put on a show in Los Angeles with a new white version of the Jaguar C-X16 Concept (XE) and the new XKR-S Convertible. The Jaguar C-X16 – which looks set to be the Jaguar XE when it arrives – conspires to look even more production-ready at LA than it already did at Frankfurt despite, as far as we can tell, nothing more than a new coat of paint. Some of the elements that seem unlikely to make it in to production – such as the rear hatch which opens E-Type like and the ultra-modern interior – are still present, yet on the C-X16 they seem to fit; it would be a shame to see them go for the production XE.