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

Winners of the 'Ultimate LA Machine' Design Challenge announced

 The judges of the Los Angeles Auto Show's Design Challenge have named the Dodge Superbee and Volkswagen Mobile Lounge as joint-winners of the first ever automobile design studio competition. Designer Reto Brun of Volkswagen/Audi Design Center California said his studio considered two Los Angeles issues when designing the Volkswagen Mobile Lounge - an antidote to traffic and a better option for the area's "limo-centric" entertainment culture. Whisper-quiet fuel cell technology whisks occupants towards their destination while electronically controlled tinted glass, an open living space and innumerable in-car amenities provide a supremely comfortable environment.

Audi prepares a topless R8 GT

With production of the high-performance R8 GT getting under way, Audi is preparing a convertible version of the car. The German automaker released sketches of the R8 GT Spyder on Monday. A full debut is likely at the Frankfurt motor show in September.

Mercedes AMG had its best ever year in 2013 – sales up 40 per cent in the UK

Record sales in 2013 for Mercedes AMG AMG is becoming more and more important to Mercedes, not just in numbers sold but in the performance glow AMG versions of Mercedes cars cast across the whole range. And those numbers of AMG Mercedes sold reached new highs in 2013 with AMG reporting sales of 32,200, the biggest ever total from Mercedes performance division. AMG’s three key markets – the UK, US and Germany – all posted record sales, but it was the UK that saw the biggest growth with sales up by 40 per cent (up 20 per cent ion the US and 10 per cent in Germany).