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

Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe

By Ben Oliver Motor Shows 09 January 2007 05:53 Drophead Coupe makes waves in Detroit CAR Online brought you the first pictures of the new open-top Phantom and exclusive video footage last month, but this £260,000 monster still stole the Detroit show when Rolls-Royce chairman Ian Robertson officially unveiled it in what will be by far its biggest market. The 100EX concept on which the production car is based stole the 2004 Geneva show too, and features which we all thought would only be seen on the concept, such as the teak ‘decking’ on the hood cover and the rear-hinged suicide doors, have made it to the finished car. Production starts at Goodwood this summer.

Lotus not liquidating

When a storied car brand moves only 137 units in a year in the UK and 242 in the US, predictions of said marque's demise carry a certain amount of weight -- 137 is not exactly a number that makes an automaker too big to fail. When the manufacturer in question shows up on a government list of companies to be shut down, brand-enthusiast hearts get heavy; the early stages of mourning kick in. But when the company in question is Lotus, the enthusiast thinks to himself, “Eh, they've been in dire straits before.

Fiat, Chrysler in partnership talks

Fiat Group is negotiating with Chrysler LLC to form a strategic partnership that could include a Fiat equity stake in the ailing U.S. carmaker. The pact would help Chrysler speed and strengthen its restructuring plan.