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

Jaguar XFR-S arrives ahead of LA debut

The Jaguar XFR-S – Jaguar’s most powerful saloon car to date – has leaked out ahead of its debut tonight at the Los Angeles Auto Show. We’re hoping that Jaguar has managed to bestow extra power on the very appealing XFR without wrecking the stuff that makes Jaguar saloons so appealing – the dynamic/ride balance – which, if they have, will make the XFR-S a more appealing bonkers sports saloon than the German offerings. The promise is all there with a new butch front end, a more aggressive body kit, chunks of carbon fibre, a huge rear wing for extra downforce, a new diffuser at the back, stiffer springs, a new rear subframe with stiffer bushes, a tweaked active diff and a tweak of the stability control for more fun.

Who's Where: Giles Taylor appointed Rolls-Royce Motor Cars design director

Giles Taylor has been appointed Rolls-Royce Motor Cars design director, with effect from 1 July 2012. He previously held the position of head of exterior design. Taylor will report directly to senior vice president BMW Group design, Adrian van Hooydonk and will replace Ian Cameron who retires from his position to become a brand ambassador until his retirement in April 2013.

Magna gets Vauxhall and Opel

Canadian parts maker Magna takes control of Opel and Vauxhall The German Government is to supply funding of €1.5 billion to help the new Opel/Vauxhall operation to finance the transition. The news hasn’t come a moment too soon, as the US Government had given GM only until Monday to resolve the issue before the likely bankruptcy of GM. The Opel/Vauxhall operation will now be ring-fenced from the insolvency of its former parent in the US and will become ana entity in its own right.