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

Honda unveils supercharged CR-Z, 2014 Civic Coupe at SEMA

Hard to tell, but the supercharged tomato you see above represents a fundamental shift within Honda: it is the first car from Honda Performance Development with parts that actually make your car go faster. Honda Performance Development: "We're not just body kits and lowering springs anymore!" After two decades in actual racing development, perhaps it was time. HPD has built engines and chassis for IndyCar, American Le Mans Prototypes, Formula Atlantic, and the Continental Sports Car Challenge.

Brabus upgrades Mercedes-Benz SL Roadster

German tuner Brabus has added the 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL Roadster to its stable of upgradable cars. The horsepower wizards from Bottrop, Germany, wrung 520 hp from the SL's 4.7-liter bi-turbo V8, which should be good enough for a top speed of 186 mph. The Brabus B20 PowerXtra module is responsible for the 85-hp increase and the 88 lb-ft of extra torque.

Alfa Romeo 4C convertible likely for 2015

Conventional wisdom holds that if you want to take on Porsche's 911, you need a convertible variant. And although Alfa Romeo's often marched to the beat of a wonderfully idiosyncratic drummer, it sounds as if it's hewing to general sporting-car rules of thumb with the 4C. According to a report in Britain's Autocar, sources have confirmed that a 4C convertible will follow the launch of the coupe by about a year.