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

All used up: Pre-owned sales rise as consumers seek new-car alternatives

Used-car sales took a leap upward in April, and the trend is expected to continue at least until midyear as pent-up demand for affordable pre-owned vehicles jacks up at least one segment of the car marketplace. Sales of new cars continued an unabated slide toward what analysts say is a 30-year low in the United States, but used-car sales showed strength as buyers unable to finance new cars shifted their sights to less expensive used models. As a result, retailers such as the large Penske Automotive Group reported that despite an overall decline in sales in the first three months of 2009, improving used-car sales kept them in the black.

Alpina to debut B6 GT3 race car at Geneva motor show

Alpina has been tinkering with BMW vehicles for close to 50 years and has a rich motorsports history that includes campaigns in European touring car, hill climbing, rally and endurance racing that it stepped away from 20 years ago. Now the racing bug has returned to Alpina with the announcement of its entry into the FIA GT3 European championship series. The BMW 6-series based B6 GT3 will have its first public showing at the Geneva motor show in March.

Porsche reveals extreme 911 GT2 RS

Porsche has revealed its most powerful and arguably most extreme road-going 911 to date: the GT2 RS. The new rear-wheel-drive road rocket will debut publicly at the Moscow auto show in late August and will go on sale in the United States in October. The GT2 RS, to be built in a limited run of 500, is powered by the latest evolution of Zuffenhausen's 3.6-liter, twin-turbocharged, horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine, tuned to deliver a Le Mans-grade 620 hp.