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

Michelin Challenge Design 2013 competition deadline next Friday

The Michelin Challenge Design 2013 competition deadline is fast approaching – you only have until 1 June to submit your designs. The theme of this year's competition is ‘HALF! Lightweight with a Passion', with entrants being asked to explore lightweight vehicle development by designing a family vehicle for four to six people.  The design has to adhere to consumers' safety and comfort needs as well as usability on current road infrastructure and production feasibility using modern technology, materials, powertrain solutions or manufacturing solutions.

2013 Nissan GT-R gets a tweak

Nissan has had a play with the GT-R for 2013 with suspension upgrades, sharper responses and a more comfortable ride. On the performance front, the 2013 model year Nissan GT-R gets a set of new high-output injectors which give more concise control to fuel for better mid range and high rev response, a new relief valve for the turbocharger bypass cuts the decrease of pressure to sustain response and a new oil pan baffle helps maintain oil pressure. On the handling front Nissan has revised dampers, springs and the front anti-roll bar to lower the centre of gravity, new cam bolts on the front suspension improve accuracy and the torque carrying capacity of the driveshaft to hub bearings has been increased to you can attack a track more reliably.

John Entwistle’s Rolls Royce Silver Shadow ESTATE up for grabs

John Entwistle’s Rolls Royce Silver Shadow Shooting Brake (pictured) up for sale Rolls Royce has never made an estate car – or Shooting Brake, as posh estates (and modern wannabes) tend to be badged – but that hasn’t stopped well-heeled owners from Maharajahs to rock stars turning Rolls Royces in to hunting and shooting transport for almost a hundred years. Taking the finest creations of Rolls and turning them in to a bespoke shooting brake is not a cheap hobby, but if you fancy a bit of gentrified rock ‘n’ roll history, Bonham’s have got The Ox’s (that’s John Entwistle, the Who bassist, for the younger readers) customised Silver Shadow Shooting Brake up for grabs. The Ox had the Rolls turned in to a Shooting Brake by an unknown coachbuilders back in the 1980s to carry his Irish Wolfhounds, and when he died as a result of a bit to much nose candy his Rolls Royce Shooting Brake was bought by the current owner from Entwistle’s wife.