Eibach Ers Springs 0500.225.1600 -pair- on 2040-parts.com

Rare foreign cars head to Carlisle this weekend

Every spring, Carlisle, Pa., (otherwise known as the Woodstock of the classic-car hobby, a title it now fully shares with Hershey) hosts a weekend event just for foreign cars. Last year, over 1,000 cars gathered in central Pennsylvania, with rare foreign machinery making its way from all over the lower 50 and parts of Canada. The longest-traveled cars we spotted last year wore British Columbia plates, which should give you a clue as to the event's following, though we're still unsure which cars we spent the longest time gawking at.

New Honda Civic Black Edition launches

New Honda Civic Black Edition launches The Honda Civic in normal guise – as opposed to the Type R – might not be the most inspiring car on the market, but it offers a convincing package nonetheless of great quality and decent looks and, in the latest Civic, better ride and better handling. As a Ford Focus and VW Golf competitor, the Civic perhaps suffers from a slightly boring image, which would explain why Honda has launched the Civic Black Edition with a meaner look to entice buyers who want a Civic that looks a bit less an older generation car. There are no power upgrades, suspension tweaks or promise of more dynamism from the Civic Black Edition, but it does get exterior gloss black elements and black side skirts and rear bumper, together with gloss black roof spoiler, integrated covers for the door mirrors and a gloss black fuel filler lid.

MINI GP II on its way

MINI GP II on its way (MINI GP pictured) MINI has revealed that they are planning a MINI GP II – the most powerful MINI ever – to be launched at Mini United 2012 in La Castellet in May. When the first BMW MINI was close to its sell by date, MINI churned out the most powerful MINI ever in the guise of the MINI GP. And now, with the second generation MINI nearing the end of its life, they’re about to pull the same trick with the MINI GP II.