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

Merc to revive straight six, plus 4cyl and smaller V8s

Mercedes has just signed off a new engine family which will see most full-sized Mercs in future run four-cylinders, downsized V8s and… straight sixes. A friendly Mercedes engineer recently met CAR to disclose the engine plans for future models, including the surprise disclosure that Merc plans to switch to straight sixes, like its rivals over in Munich.  It's fair to say I almost choked on my breakfast croissant when I found out the details of the next MB engine generation which has just been signed off for release in 2015. Mercedes' future four-cylinder engines Again, there will be a family of new low-cost fours, and the big-bore V8s will be replaced by a series of downsized turbocharged 4.0-litre units.

1990s supercars

By Tim Pollard and Ben Oliver 10 July 2008 16:01 Supercars in the Nineties By now well and truly established, the supercar regulars continued to offer ever more outrageous products. The recession bit in the early ’90s, but thereafter some of the landmark cars were launched: the McLaren F1 is, for many, the definitive supercar of all time – a one-off conceived with all the purity of a grand prix racer. Others dabbled (remember the Jag XJ220?), but none achieved the Macca’s astonishing single-mindedness.Browse our GBU-style pick of the decade's landmarks below – and vote for your favourite supercar decade in our poll  Make and model Year Price Engine 0-60mph Top speed 1990 £156,000 5707cc V12, 492bhp, 428lb ft   4.1sec 202mph  For   The Audi-fettled 6.0 VT was the last, and best Against   A playboy's plaything; never gained real credibility Verdict   Lambo's thinking looked slow after the F40 and 959   Lamborghinis third mid-engined V12 supercar lacked the impact of the first two.

How car makers fix official fuel economy tests

Official fuel economy tests on new cars are being fixed by car makers using a number of legal ‘tricks’ that artificially boost economy ratings. Has anyone ever bought a new car and ending up getting the sort of economy the maker claimed? Probably not.