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

Design Contest: LA Design Challenge 2008

The entrants for the fifth annual Design Challenge, part of the Design Los Angeles automobile designers' conference, have now been announced. Nine Southern California automotive design studios - including Audi, BMW, GM, Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota and Volkswagen - have been pitted against one another and asked to develop a concept which best answers a brief entitled 'Motorsports in 2025'. "Automotive designers have always been fascinated with motorsports and this year's Design Challenge has provided them with the opportunity to use their creative talent to look at these cars with new eyes, using innovative technologies and approaches," said Chuck Pelly, director of Design Los Angeles and partner in The Design Academy, Inc.

VW Up 5 Door reveal

VW Up 5 Door The first photos of the VW Up 5 door have been revealed, a few months after the 3-Door Up debuted officially at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The 3-Door VW Up debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show back in September, but instead of being the radical departure we were expecting, it turned out to be just a replacement for the VW Lupo. And now we get the first photos of the VW Up 5-Door, which will broaden the appeal of the Up!

New hardcore Ferrari confirmed

By Phil McNamara Motor Industry 08 March 2007 09:01 A lighter, faster, more hardcore F430 is due this year, Ferrari boss Luca di Montezemolo hinted at the Geneva show. In 2005, Maranello unveiled the F430 Challenge, a racing version which competes in the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo series. Enthusiasts have been eagerly anticipating a roadgoing Challenge, and Di Montezemolo's off-the-cuff remarks at Ferrari's Geneva press conference suggests we won't be waiting much longer.