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

Future products: Kia seeks lively, upscale look

Kia's redesigned Optima sedan and the Cadenza replacement for the Amanti, both due next year, reflect an emphasis on creating a livelier and more upscale look for the once-bland brand. Indeed, styling has been a crucial element of Kia's new-product push in the past 18 months. The team at Kia Design Center America near Los Angeles--part of the automaker's global design network led by onetime Audi design chief Peter Schreyer--has helped set the new styling direction.

Top Gear Best of British Cars Parade on the Mall (video)

Top Gear Best of British Cars Parade on the Mall The new series of Top Gear (Series 20) starts next Sunday, and it looks like the segment on the new Jaguar F-Type is going to be Top Gear’s most ambitious shoot yet. Jeremy Clarkson Tweeted the photo above of the line-up on the Queen’s front drive (The Mall) as Top Gear seem to have dragged just about every British built vehicle with an engine and wheels out to play. Apart from the trio of F-Types leading the procession, there’s everything from a McLaren P1 – and a couple of 12Cs – by way of an Aston Martin One-77 to fire engines, Nissans, lawn mowers, motorbikes, a selection of F1 cars from Red Bull, McLaren et al, and any other metal you can imagine.

Hennessey Venom GT (2010) first official pictures

Less is more with the Lotus Elise. Hethel’s smallest sports car is sweetest when its lightweight aluminium chassis has a little naturally aspirated engine providing the power; a 257bhp Exige variant is about as powerful as it ever needs to be. So here’s a 1200bhp version… That’s right.