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

Michelin design contest inspires young minds

The College for Creative Studies in Detroit held its 24th Michelin Design challenge, in which Michelin sponsors a design and development project for one of CCS' transportation design classes. The competition works like this: CCS and Michelin get together to develop a theme, then CCS picks which transportation design class will work on the project. The idea, Michelin says, is to celebrate and promote the kind of vehicle design that highlights original thinking and innovation.

Ford 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine is 2014 International Engine of the Year – again

The new Fiesta Red & Black get the 140 PS Ecoboost Engine of the Year It’s hard to believe that the little 999cc Ford EcoBoost Engine has been around for a few years now, but that hasn’t diminished the edge it has over engines from other car makers as it takes the gong for best international engine for the third year in a row. Remarkably, the 1.0 litre EcoBoost is now offering sterling service across the most unlikely vehicles, with applications in Ford’s range including the Fiesta, Focus, B-MAX, EcoSport, C-MAX and Grand C-MAX, Tourneo Connect, Grand Tourneo Connect, Transit Connect and Transit Courier. And it’ll be turning up in the new Mondeo when that arrives in a few months too.

McLaren 12C Can-Am goes in to production

The track only McLaren 12C – the 12C Can-Am – was revealed as a one-off at Pebble Beach but is now going in to limited production. The 12C Can-Am is aimed at the lucrative track day market in the States, and without the constraints of any production series McLaren has been able to play as they wish. That means the 12C Can-Am – developed by the McLaren GT Team which developed the 12C GT3 Race car – gets a new aerodynamic package that improves downforce by 30 per cent, including a carbon fibre splitter with winglets, a carbon fibre diffuser and huge rear spoiler.