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

Jaguar XJ gets the Startech treatment

Startech make the Jaguar XJ in to a luxury mobile office The Jaguar XJ has been given a makeover by Startech – sister company to Brabus – with subtle styling changes, upgraded interior and business tools. We’re not the biggest fans of some of the overblown styling modifications inflicted on very good high-end cars by aftermarket tuners. But the work Startech – sister company to Brabus – has done on the Jaguar XJ is very subtle and very appealing.

Mercedes SL63 AMG (2012) first official pictures

This is the new Mercedes SL63 AMG, a £110k roadster with 557bhp and 664lb ft of torque. Mercedes will reveal this monstrous open-top at AMG model at the Geneva motor show in March 2012. I’m up with Mercedes’ tricks – this Mercedes SL63 AMG doesn’t have a 6.3-litre engine, does it?

Chevrolet UK has its best ever year

Now admittedly, Chevrolet UK is not starting from a point of market dominance in the UK, but any manufacturer who has managed to increase sales in 2008 is obviously doing something right. Chevrolet UK has announced that in 2008 it managed to increase its market share in the UK by 12.5%, from 0.76% to 0.86%, with total sales for the year of 18,372 cars (which is only a smidge higher than 2007, but the lower total sales for the UK Car market in 2008 meant a significant increase in market share for Chevrolet). Chevrolet Cruze - Launches in the UK in 2009 These are not figures that are going to frighten the pants off Ford and Vauxhall, but they are an indication that a certain part of the car buying public in the UK are looking at price as a major factor, and are prepared to sacrifice a degree of driving joy to get in to a new car at a lower price.