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

Toyota Prius with added noise: The Prius Vehicle Proximity Notification

Prius Vehicle Proximity Notification We’d much rather see a hybrid car than an electric one, but with plug-in hybrids starting to proliferate more car makers are having to address the issue of silent running endangering blind – and distracted - pedestrians. Step forward the Toyota Prius Vehicle Proximity Notification System. The US Senate signed off the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act at the end of 2010, which requires the makers of cars with the ability to run silently to make them run noisily instead, completely negating about the only benefit there is for electric cars.

Ford Racing offers B-Spec kit for the Fiesta

While a B-Spec Ford Fiesta might seem like unsalted mashed potatoes compared with Ken Block's Hybrid-Function Hoon Vehicle variant, the basic car is plenty of fun when equipped with a manual transmission and shod with some good summer rubber. As such, Ford Racing is offering a kit to convert a showroom-fresh Fiesta hatch into an affordable racer eligible for SCCA, Grand-Am and World Challenge B-spec competition. The main mod involved is a coil-over suspension kit.

Used car market pressure eases

AN INCREASE in the number of used cars coming into the market has “taken the edge off prices” and calmed some corners of the industry, according to used car pricing experts CAP. A greater influx of part-exchange cars arriving at dealers is partly responsible, and with many franchised dealers focusing for the time being on selling those vehicles, competition to acquire stock on the open market has decreased. CAP reports that the pressure has been lifted on some dealers who had become frustrated at how expensive it was becoming to source cars at fair prices.