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

Maintenance 'favours' end up costing more

GETTING help from family, neighbours or friends for basic car maintenance tasks costs the UK public an estimate £300million a year, according to a new survey. Over 2,000 people were surveyed on behalf of Halfords Autocentres and one in six said they regretted asking for help in the first place. 45% who subsequently had to pay a professional to rectify mistakes were left with a bill in excess of £100.

Ferrari California HELE: Paris Motor Show 2010

The Ferrari California HELE Not surprisingly, most of the Ferrari focus at the Paris Motor Show has been on the Ferrari SA APERTA, the 599 Roadster making its first appearance. But the SA APERTA isn’t the only new Ferrari on Ferrari’s stand in Paris. Ferrari has brought along the Ferrari California HELE to Paris (and no, we don’t know why Ferrari suddenly find it necessary to SHOUT their car names), which is about as close as you’ll get to an Eco Ferrari.

McLaren P1 Track confirmed as McLaren Automotive goes in to profit

McLaren are building a track version of the P1 (pictured) for P1 customers only It’s only three years since McLaren Automotive entered the hugely competitive market for high-end supercars (well, it’s four years, but only three since the first 12C went to a customer), but it’s already in profit. McLaren made an operating profit in 2013 of £12.4 million (and a pre-tax of £4.4 million) on sales of £284.4 million and did so – as predicted – by hitting their sales targets – McLaren sold 1359 12Cs and 36 of the McLaren P1 hypercar. And that looks to be just the start.