Chrysler Sebring 2.0 4a20 Connecting Rod Set 95-99 on 2040-parts.com

Mechanics qualifications gained using Haynes manuals

MOST MEN enjoy a good Haynes car manual, whether they really understand it or not, but a group of youngsters has used the workshop guides to achieve their first qualifications in car mechanics. The first wave of the Haynes Mechanix scheme has seen a mixed gender youth club group, aged 15-25 and from Islington in London, use Haynes manuals along with guidance from experienced mentors to fix real problems on a real car. The donor Volkswagen, known as Percy the Polo, was a theoretical MOT fail and needed replacement spark plugs, a brake fluid replacement and much more, to give the aspiring tinkerers a broad spectrum of challenges.

Caterham R300 Superlight unveiled

By Ben Pulman First Official Pictures 28 October 2008 10:30 Caterham has released its latest Superlight Seven model, the R300. Powered by a 2.0-litre Ford Duratec engine, tweaked by Caterham Powertrain to produce 175bhp, the new R300 will sprint to 60mph in 4.5 seconds.  The new R300 weighs a mere 515kg, just 15kg more than CAR’s long-term 1.6-litre Superlight. Combined with the new 175bhp engine, the R300 has a power-to-weight ratio of 339bhp-per-tonne – a Porsche 911 Carrera S has a mere 270 by comparison.

Video: Peter Schreyer on premium proportion

Kia has released a short film featuring Peter Schreyer that provides an insight into the world of premium car design in which he explains the importance of proportion. In the presentation, Schreyer sketches the company's new K9 sedan, describing how a rear-wheel drive platform affects the car's design, with its generous wheelbase, short front overhang and the 'prestige distance' between the center of the front wheel and the A-pillar. Related stories: Interview: Peter Schreyer, Chief of Design, Kia