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

Aston Martin creates three special-edition DB9s

Aston Martin has designed three special-edition DB9 models named Carbon Black, Quantum Silver and Morning Frost. The Carbon Black and Quantum Silver models are both sport editions with a six-speed Touchtronic II automatic transmission and a remapped sports exhaust that provides a more evocative sound, the automaker said. Both cars come equipped with 19-inch, black 10-spoke wheels, a black grille and graphite tailpipes.

Old is new again: Will a floor-hinged throttle pedal be in your future?

If you think that every little nut, bolt, switch, gear or widget in your new car wasn't scrutinized by a team of highly educated, overworked car geeks (read: engineers), think again. A couple of recent conversations with automotive engineers confirmed that virtually nothing that goes into a car today is taken for granted. During the recent Pebble Beach weekend, I had the pleasure of spending time with an engineer for Jaguar, and the subject turned to materials used for various switches in the cabin.

Mystery Mercedes 600 six-door Landaulet heads to auction

There are ambitious project cars, and then there is this: a 1971 Mercedes-Benz600 Six-Door Pullman Landaulet that'll be offered at RM Auctions' Retromobile sale in Paris on Feb. 5. One of just 26 built, this example was recently rescued from the state motor pool of an unnamed African country with the consignor unwilling to reveal the car's exact provenance.