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

Bedford Autodrome to get Ariel Atoms for 2012

Corporate track-days at the Bedford Autodrome will get lairier in 2012 - Somerset-based Ariel has announced it’ll supply ten cars for the PalmerSport track-day events next year. Stopping short of the unhinged Atom V8, the PalmerSport-spec cars get the normally aspirated 245bhp Civic Type-R engine, and some key changes to set it aside from the Joe-Public Atom. The Palmer-spec car will get a Sadev paddle-shift sequential gearbox, which swaps ratios in 60 milliseconds, whilst some choice chassis mods optimise the Atom for its full-time track-toy brief.

Lexus LF-CC promises an appealing Lexus IS: Paris 2012

Lexus has given their LF-CC Concept a public airing at the 2012 Paris Motor Show, a preview of the 2013 Lexus IS. The new Lexus GS has proved that Lexus can build a car with a green halo and offer it with styling that isn’t from the beige school of car design. And now the 2013 Lexus IS looks to be heading the same route.

Mercedes CLA 45 AMG gets the Brabus treatment

The Mercedes CLA 45 AMG gets the Brabus treatment The Mercedes CLA 45 AMG is already the most powerful 2.0 litre 4-door saloon/coupe on the market, offering an immense 355bhp and 332lb/ft of torque. But if you think the CLA 45 AMG is a bit too tame – and needs to shout its performance a bit louder – then Brabus may have the answer with their take on the CLA 45 AMG. Brabus have taken the Mercedes 2.0 litre turbo and had a play with its brain to release even more horses than the standard car so it now has an astonishing 395bhp and 369lb/ft of torque, which manages to cut the 0-62mph to an even more impressive 4.2 seconds.