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

Arizona auctions: Scottsdale sales net an estimated $157 million

WITH VIDEO -- Five days of sales staged by auto auction companies in the Phoenix area pulled in a combined estimated total of $157 million, according to Hagerty Insurance. The five companies staging auctions--Barrett-Jackson, Gooding & Co., RM Auctions, Russo and Steele and Silver Auctions--offered 2,887 lots for sale and sold 2,325 of them, an 81 percent sell-through rate. A 2006 Ferrari FXX Evoluzione at the Gooding auction was listed as the top single sale with a price of $2.09 million, Hagerty said.

Bizarre EU road rules revealed

THE AA has unearthed a collection of bizarre European driving rules that could catch unwary drivers out this summer. Believe it or not, you're not allowed to drive a dirty car in Belarus, Romania and even parts of Russia. In Portugal it's illegal to carry bicycles on the back of a car, and for some unknown reason it's forbidden in Estonia to overtake a tram that has stopped to pick up passengers.

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.