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

Ariel Atom 3.5 (2012) first official pictures

It's difficult for Ariel to come up with a mid-life refresh for its cars - there simply aren't that many bits to fiddle with in the first place. Still, the boys from Somerset must have succeeded, because what we have here is the freshly updated Ariel Atom 3.5. As the name suggests, it's a development of the Ariel Atom 3, with a crop of minor visual  tweaks and some mechanical changes too, keeping Caterham and BAC looking over their shoulders.

Design Contest: 2005 World Automotive Design Competition announced

The World Automotive Design Competition, sponsored by Alias and hosted by the Canadian International Auto Show, is back with more participating design schools and an impressive list of prizes. Design students from twenty-six schools around the world have been invited to design a World Car that visually identifies its cultural origins and, at the same time, has appeal, and can be sold throughout the world, in at least five countries on three continents. The vehicle should be easily recognized as coming from a particular culture.

Lexus targets the Mercedes-Benz S-class with a sporty LS 460

Lexus has introduced its first sport package on the LS 460 to take aim at the Mercedes-Benz S-class. The flagship LS, redesigned for the 2007 model year, is getting long in the tooth. And Lexus wants younger BMW and Mercedes owners.