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

56% of drivers 'underestimated car expense'

MORE THAN half of people who have bought a second-hand car in the last two years have found it more expensive to run than they expected, according to a Government-backed body. Some 56% of motorists said that total cost, including maintenance, repairs, insurance and fuel had turned out to be higher than anticipated and one in five drivers (20%) have resorted to going into debt just to keep their vehicle on the road, the Money Advice Service (MAS) found. One in four (26%) of the 3,000 people surveyed who have bought a second-hand car since 2012 now has regrets about their purchase, with many of them saying they had not worked out whether it was really affordable or that the purchase price was too much in the first place.

RCA 'Future Car' design competition winner announced

Michal Vlcek, a first-year student in the Vehicle Design department at London's Royal College of Arts, has been announced by the organizers of the London Motorexpo as the winner of the competition to design an innovative electric-powered car. The competition, which was open exclusively to RCA students, asked for designs for the four person electric vehicle of 2032, using "the packaging advantages of an electric motor to move way from the formulaic styling of many modern-day passenger cars". Vlcek's high-quality artwork and lateral thinking proved to be instrumental in his success.

Aston Martin V12 Vantage (2009): first official pictures

By Tim Pollard First Official Pictures 04 February 2009 09:00 Aston Martin today unveils the new V12 Vantage – the production version of the 2007 concept car. No prizes for guessing this car’s remit: it’s the beautiful Vantage bodyshell (now four years old!) stuffed with six litres and 12 cylinders of Aston muscle. The V12 Vantage will be shown at the 2009 Geneva motor show on 3 March.