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

Mercedes S-Class Maybach spied (video)

The Mercedes S-Class Maybach hits the Nurburgring The new Mercedes S-Class is already starting to proliferate, with a wide range of engines, two wheelbases and the CL Coupe’s replacement – the new S-Class Coupe – already hitting the market. But Mercedes are far from finished extending the S-Class franchise, and we’ve got two more versions of the S-Class Saloon – the Maybach and Pullman – still to come, and the arrival of the S-Class Convertible still to come. And now it looks like the S-Class Maybach – effectively a replacement for the ill-fated Maybach brand – is getting closer to debut with this S-Class Maybach spotted testing at the Nurburgring.

UK car production down 20%

CAR PRODUCTION slowed a little last month, according to official figures. A total of 133,730 cars were made in the UK in February - 2.7% fewer than in February 2013, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said. Cars made for the export market rose 3.5% last month, but manufacturing for the home market was down 20.8%.

New Smart ForTwo and ForFour set for 2014 unveil

Mercedes-Benz's struggling Smart city car division is seeking to add a new dimension to the urban driving experience with its third-generation ForTwo, currently undergoing the final phase of a three-year test and development program ahead of a planned unveiling mid next year. Set for North American launch in 2015, the ultra-compact two-seat hatchback represents a fresh chapter in operations for Smart, which has recently gained greater independence from parent company Mercedes-Benz as its boss, Annette Winkler, attempts to stem years of financial losses after almost a decade of rebuilding following its short-lived joint venture with Mitsubishi. The new ForTwo, known internally as project C453, has been developed in a joint engineering program with the upcoming second-generation ForFour and its sister car, the third-generation Renault Twingo.