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

Ariel's Atom returns faster than ever

BRITISH firm Ariel has announced an upgraded version of its sensational Atom sportscar that is faster than ever, making it one of the quickest cars on sale today. The Atom 3.5R showcases a number of upgrades over the outgoing model which contribute to the sensational performance. The 2.0-litre Honda V-TEC engine has had its supercharger revised to give 350bhp and over 240lb.ft of torque, while the gearbox is now a six-speed paddleshift system that can manage five downshifts in less than a second.

Porsche says Panamera avoids gas-guzzler tax

Few expenses were spared in conceiving the Porsche Panamera, but consumers will avoid at least one cost of ownership: the ignominious gas-guzzler tax. Porsche has announced ratings for the 2010 sedan; it will get a combined figure of 18 mpg or 19 mpg from the EPA, depending on the model. This means Porsche’s four-door foray will avoid a fairly substantial cost of ownership--a tax of up to $7,700 is levied on the most prolific guzzlers.

New Chevrolet Aveo (2012): Starts at £9,995

New Chevrolet Aveo (2012): Costs from £9,995 It’s taken a very long time for the (now) 2012 Chevrolet Aveo to make it from production reveal - at Paris 2010 – to a reality in UK showrooms. But Chevy has finally got it together and the new Aveo will arrive in a Chevrolet showroom near you (if there’s a Chevy showroom near you, that is) in January – a full two years since Chevy rolled out the new Aveo concept at Detroit at the start of 2010. So was it worth the wait?