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

Interior Motives China Conference 2009

As global automakers such as Porsche put the finishing touches to their show cars in the run-up to the Shanghai Motor Show on April 20th, sister publication Interior Motives is doing the same with its exciting line-up of speakers as it prepares to host the second Interior Motives China design conference in the city the following day. Scheduled to take place on 21st and 22nd April (immediately following the first motor show press day) at the InterContinental Shanghai Pudong hotel, this event will see the biggest names in Chinese, Asian and Western car design come together for a two-day program of interactive debate. Entitled 'China: Changing the landscape of car design', this year's conference will focus on the issues and opportunities facing both foreign and domestic carmakers as they search for commercial success in China.

Aston Martin V12 Vantage ends & big changes afoot at Aston Martin

Launched as a limited edition V12 Vantage in 2009, by 2010 Aston decided there was enough demand to make the V12 Vantage a proper part of Aston’s standard offerings, and since then it’s been the same. The V12 Vantage has also spawned a Roadster version (which, we think, stays in production – at least for now) and the slightly bonkers V12 Zagato, which conspired to look a bit too extreme for an Aston and cost an arm and a leg. We know that AM sold around 1200 V12 Vantage Coupes, around 100 V12 Vantage Roadsters and a handful of V12 Zagatos, but now the run is at an end and we do wonder if there will be a replacement?

Subaru BRZ-STI concept

Subaru is poised to unveil the BRZ-STI concept at the at the LA auto show later this month. A concept version of the all-new rear-wheel drive compact sports car jointly developed with Toyota, the lightweight BRZ shares most of its mechanical components with the Toyota FT-86 concept, which made its first public appearance at the 2009 Tokyo motor show. A world away from Subaru's ‘Sports Car Architecture' concept that has made the rounds at the past few motor shows, the BRZ's design is remarkably similar to that of the FT-86.