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

Honda cutting production in Swindon again – 500 jobs at risk

Honda is cutting another 500 jobs in Swindon It’s only a year since Honda announced 800 job cuts at Swindon (which eventually was 550) and now they’re about to cut a further 500 as weak demand – particularly in Europe – sees the Swindon plant producing just half the cars it could. The plan is to cut shifts from 3 to 2 a day, which will result in the loss of 340 permanent jobs and 160 temporary ones, and production will be centred on just one production line to increase efficiency and flexibility. The Swindon Plant – which builds the Civic, Civic Tourer, CR-V and Jazz (and the Civic Type-R from next year) – has been hard hit by the slump in European sales in the last five years and, despite still strong UK sales, production levels of 120,000 cars a year – just half of the Swindon capacity – are not enough to sustain the current staffing levels.

Boyd Coddington, dead at 63

Legendary Californian hot-rod builder and customizer Boyd Coddington, passed-away last Wednesday, at 63, from complications related to a recent surgery. His influence and legacy is immense, not just in the street-rod scene, but for the automotive design community as a whole. Raised in Rupert Idaho, Coddington moved to California in the late 60's to start his hot-rod shop while working for Disneyland as a machinist.

Decision time at the dawn of the automated car

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers sent out a press release earlier this month in which they claim that by 2040 75% of the vehicles on the road will be autonomous. As much as I love driving, I have to admit that I won't bemoan the death of the traffic jam. I'll happily give up the crowded freeways and city streets if it means cheaper gas and abandoned back roads.