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

Hennessey Venom GT hits new, unofficial, speed record (video)

The Hennessey Venom GT (pictured) hist 270.49mph on a NASA runway Top speed records for production cars is starting to seem pretty irrelevant as there’s almost nowhere an owner can ever hope to hit those record speeds. And the performance of cars like the new McLaren P1 – where  performance and handling are much more the focus than outright top speed – has added the the irrelevance. But that doesn’t stop some car makers aiming for the bragging rights of the world’s fastest production car, and John Hennessey and his Hennessey Venom GT are back with another claim on the title.

The next F1: McLaren plans replacement for supercar

Formula One powerhouse McLaren secretly has begun work on a replacement for its legendary F1 supercar, while it also gears up to become a mainstream sports-car maker. McLaren's Technology Center in Woking, England, has built some 2,000 McLaren SLR supercars a year for Mercedes-Benz, but McLaren boss Ron Dennis reportedly has his sights set on producing 1,000 of its upcoming Ferrari F430-fighting P11s a year starting in 2011. The number, Dennis said, will rise to 4,000 cars by mid-decade as future models such as the Porsche 911-challenging P8 come on line.

GM may extend Saab deadline, report says

General Motors is prepared to wait beyond the end of this week before deciding on the future of Saab as it reviews remaining bids, Bloomberg News reported. The news agency quoted Saab board member Paul Aakerlund as saying that if there is a bid that GM finds sufficiently interesting, then GM's Dec. 31 decision to wind down its Swedish unit "is not a date that's holy.” Aakerlund said GM told Saab last week that it would wind down Saab and simultaneously continue talks with bidders about a sale, said Aakerlund, who also heads the IF Metall union at Saab.