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

Honda shows off Concept C and Concept S at Beijing motor show

Alongside the Chinese introduction of its new ILX and RDX, Honda rolled out two concept vehicles that the company says presage new models to hit the Chinese market. The “C” in “Concept C” apparently stands for “cool,” “challenge” and “China,” which is er, um, iffy, but at least it's a departure from Honda's as-of-late anodyne exterior design. Though it rather closely resembles a late-model Hyundai dressed up in Super Sentai garb, Honda claims that the C's design was inspired by a dragon.

OFFICIAL: Alfa Romeo 4C laps the Nurburgring in 8:04s

The Alfa Romeo 4C (pictured) laps the Nurburgring in 8:04s We wouldn’t normally report on a car lapping the Nurburgring in around 8 minutes; after all, the Nurburgring lap record for a full production car is sub-7 minutes, so 8 minutes seems almost a stroll. But the lap time round the Nurburgring for the Alfa Romeo 4C is worthy of note because it’s a new lap record for a production car with less than 250bhp, and puts the Alfa 4C very much on the map as a performance car. We’d heard rumours a few weeks ago that Horst von Saurma has managed the impressive time in the 4C round the Nurburgring, but Alfa has now confirmed the time – with the 4C shod with road-legal Pirelli Zero Trofeo tyres – was completed on 23rd September 2013.

Lamborghini Aventador Roadster to get carbon fibre Targa roof

Lamborghini Aventador Roadster to get carbon fibre targa top The Italian Motoring press are reporting that the new Lamborghini Aventador Roadster will get a carbon fibre Targa roof. Lamborghini has always had a slightly cavalier attitude to the roadster roofs they put on their cars. Even the range-topping Murcielago Roadster had an origami canvas top on a frame made of old coat hangers that took longer to put up than the passing shower you were trying to shelter from.