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

BMW Alpina B5 Bi-Turbo Touring (2011): first pictures

Alpina has released first details of the estate edition of its 5-series based B5 Bi-Turbo. The wannabe M5 Touring car will be officially unveiled at the 2011 Geneva motor show next week. Alpina has been tuning BMWs for more than 40 years with the factory's blessing and increasingly close collaboration. Presaging the recent move by BMW M to forced-induction engines, Alpina first turbocharged the 5-series when they launched the B10 Bi-Turbo of 1989.

VW Golf R 400 could get more than 400PS – which makes a bit of a nonsense of its name

The VW Golf R 400 (pictured) may not actually be an R 400 The Beijing Motor Show last month saw the debut of the VW Golf R 400, an extreme take on the VW Golf R with a full 400 PS (395bhp) at its disposal. When Volkswagen revealed the R 400 as a concept we did note that it looked more production-ready than concept, and it took VW less than a week to confirm that the Golf R 400 was indeed heading for production. Now, just to muddy the waters a bit (or raise expectations), VW’s R&D chief Heinz-Jakob Neusser has said that when the Golf R 400 does arrive it could well be with more than 400PS.

Corvette evangelist, aerobatic pilot Betty Skelton dies at 85

Betty Skelton, former acrobatic airplane pilot, Chevrolet Corvette test driver and daredevil speed racer, died at the age of 85 on Aug. 31. Skelton established a concrete precedent for women's roles in aviation, aerobatic performance and auto racing.