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

Jaguar F-Type Coupe by SVO for Tour de France – JLR’s Special Vehicle Operations creates F-Type support car for Sky Team

Jaguar F-Type Coupe by SVO for Tour de France support on time trials We’ve already had two new cars from JLR’s new Special Operations division ion the guise of the new Range Rover Sport SVR and Jaguar F-Type Project 7, and now we get another – the Jaguar F-Type R Coupe support car for Jaguar’s Team SKY Tour de France exploits. The support car SVO has created is the standard F-Type R Coupe with the 542bhp supercharged V8, painted in the SKY Team’s usual blue colours and fitted with a clever roof rack to carry a couple of bikes. Other updates include tech in the car to allow team officials to communicate with the tour organisers – including radio, TV and a power supply – and are designed to be used on the individual time trial runs.

Ferrari F1 drops ‘Marlboro’ graphics for Barcelona

Ferrari have dropped the ‘Pack of Marlboros’ graphic for the Barcelona GP A couple of weeks ago we reported that Ferrari have been accused of running subliminal tobacco advertising on their F1 cars, an allegation Ferrari strenuously denied. To be honest we can’t know for sure whether there was an intent to subliminally suggest a pack of Marlboros with the barcode graphics on the current Ferrari F1 livery or not. What we can be sure of is that now a jobsworth has made the allegation we all think of a pack of Marlboros every time we see the Ferrari livery.

Lexus IS (2013) more details of new 3-series rival

Lexus has pulled the cloth back on the all-new Lexus IS at the 2013 Detroit motor show, and announced more details of its new hybrid 3-series rival. This will be the first hybrid Lexus IS, and UK sales will start in summer 2013.  What do we know about the new hybrid Lexus IS?  The IS300h combines an electric motor with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. The torque output is yet to be confirmed, but there's 217bhp and Lexus is aiming for a sub-100g/km CO2 output and fuel consumption of at least 65mpg. Figures like that are likely to grab the attention of fleet managers, as Lexus hopes to close the gap on rivals like the BMW 3-series, Mercedes C-class and Audi A4.  There's a non-hybrid model too, but this IS250 will be powered by a 204bhp 2.5-litre V6 petrol engine. It won't be a fleet favourite.  The IS250h has a six-speed automatic transmission, the IS300h has a CVT gearbox, and both cars are rear-wheel drive.