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

US DoT makes rear-view cameras compulsory

The US Department of Transportation (DoT) has issued a new safety standard for rear visibility that requires mandatory fitment of rear-view cameras. The ruling applies to all new vehicles, excluding motorcycles, weighing under 10,000 pounds (4,536kg) sold from 2018. The ruling has been introduced to cut backover crashes, caused when the victim strays into the blind zone 10-40 feet (3-12m) behind the vehicle that the driver can't see using their mirrors alone.

Aston Martin Rapide coming home

Aston Martin Rapide - homeward bound It took Aston Martin what seemed like forever to get their four-door supercar – the Aston Martin Rapide – in to production, and even then they didn’t build it themselves. When they were busy planning production of the Rapide the world’s economy was buoyant, credit was a piece of cake and Aston Martins were flying out of the showroom. But the new economic reality bit in 2008 and sales fell at Aston Martin, but by then the plan to get the Rapide built at Magna Steyr in Austria was unstoppable so, despite Aston Martin workers twiddling their thumbs as Magna Steyr built Rapides, there as nothing to be done.

2013 Ford Fiesta Van Facelift arrives (+video)

Ford has given their Fiesta Van a facelift for 2013 with much the same changes the new Fiesta gets – including the Aston Martin grill. Ford has decided it’s not just the new Fiesta that’s getting a touch of Aston Martin, it’s the Fiesta Van too. So the 2013 facelift for the Fiesta Van features most of the changes the new Fiesta gets, including that Aston Martin inspired grill on the nose.