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

Tesla repays government loans – a first, say Tesla. Chrysler disagree.

2013 is turning in to a very good year for Tesla. The Tesla Model S has had more praise heaped on it than almost any car ever has, they are making an operating profit and their shares are going through the roof. So with the stars aligning for Tesla they’ve taken the opportunity to pay back $465 million of US Department of Energy loans, nine years early.

Vauxhall Astra (2009): the first sketches

By Tim Pollard First Official Pictures 08 September 2008 09:00 Vauxhall has just issued these first official sketches of the new Astra ahead of its launch in 2009 at next year's Frankfurt motor show. Although heavily silhouetted, we can make out an evolution of today's mid-sized hatchback. This sketch is of the coupe-style three-door Astra, but there will again be a more upright five-door and indeed a whole suite of other Astras to fit every pocket.

New Honda Civic Type R Concept previews production Type R

The new Honda Civic Type R Concept previews production Type R We had a concept Civic Type R at Geneva earlier this year, but this latest Honda Civic Type R Concept – heading for a debut this week at the Paris Motor Show – almost certainly preview the full production Civic Type R due to arrive in Honda showrooms in 2015. Honda has made sure this Type R Concept is anything but a shrinking violet, giving it a startling blue paintjob with red highlights and keeping the statement massive rear wing intact, complete with quad tail pipes, aggressive rear diffuser and butch body kit. Under the skin of the front-wheel-drive Type R will be a new 2.0-litre i-VTEC which offers more than 278bhp – enough, it’s expected, for a sub-6 second 0-62mph – mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox with a new steer axis control at the front which minimises torque steer so you can get the power down properly.