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

Ken Block signs for Ford and the WRC

Ken Block – who became a YouTube sensation with his gymkhana stunt series ¬– has ended months of speculation by confirming he’ll compete in the 2010 World Rally Championship – switching his Subaru Impreza for a Ford Focus, while he'll also rally a Fiesta in the US. The Monster energy drink-backed deal will form a key part of Ford’s plan to market its hatches in America, and follows last year’s Pikes Peak Fiesta. It’s a tentative start for Block, who’ll be competing in select rounds of the WRC championship – Mexico is believed to be the first – to hone his skills.

Twin-turbo Ferrari 458 Italia takes on the Lamborghini LP-700-4 Aventador: Video

Exotic-car tuner Underground Racing from North Carolina prepared a Ferrari 458 Italia with a “bolt-on” twin-turbo system, boosting engine output to 700 hp. For comparison, the tuner matched the blown Ferrari against a Lamborghini LP-700-4 Aventador and its naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12, rated at 700 hp. “We were interested to see how they stacked up against each other after seeing a twin-turbo Gallardo almost get beat by an Aventador,” Underground Racing president Kevin Howeth said.

BMW to push build-to-order for X3

BMW wants you to buy a car the European way: The German automaker, which wants to pass Lexus as the leading luxury brand in the U.S. by 2012, is trying to convince its U.S. customers that they should order their BMWs with exactly the stuff they want on it, not settling for whatever is on the lot.