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

Factory Five Body Design Competition

Following in the footsteps of Local Motors, Factory Five is set to launch an open-sourced design contest to design its next car. Up until now, the Massachusetts-based company is famed for its Type '65 Shelby Cobra Coupe replicas and its GTM racecar. Teaming up with Grassroots Motorsports Magazine, Factory Five is now launching the design contest to design the bodywork for its latest project: a Subaru Impreza-engined, rear-wheel-drive two-seater that is expected to sell for under $9,000 in kit form, or $15,000 as a complete car.

Aston Martin make Nissan’s Andy Palmer their new CEO

Andy Palmer (pictured) is taking the reins at Aston Martin Lagonda Aston Martin has effectively been without a boss since Ulrich Bez stepped down from the role last year, but that changes with the announcement that Andrew Palmer – until now, Chief Planning Officer of Nissan – is to step in to the role. There’s no specific start date for Andy Palmer at Aston, but Nissan has announced that Philippe Klein will take up Palmer’s role at Nissan on 15 September, so it shouldn’t be long before Palmer holds the reins at Aston Martin. But what exactly has persuaded Andy Palmer to jump from a big corporate behemoth like Nissan to a struggling luxury car maker with owners who either want to tug the operating strings (the Kuwaitis) or are looking for a quick return (Investindustrial)?

Toyota Aygo Black launches – again

The Toyota Aygo Black goes on sale in April If you want a car to blat around a city or any congested urban area, one of the best there is is the Toyota Aygo. It’s well-built, huge fun to drive and – despite being far from the cheapest in its class – holds on to a good chunk of its value. And if you want a Toyota Aygo with all the toys there’s now a new model – the Toyota Aygo Black.