Gates 42220 Water Pump-water Pump (standard) on 2040-parts.com

Ariel Atom 700 is a turbo-supercharged 700-hp track weapon

If you're willing to ditch sleek supercar looks and just about every automotive creature comfort in the pursuit of pure performance, you might consider the Ariel Atom 3. Powered by a 2.4-liter Honda I4 engine cradled in an exoskeletonlike frame, the Atom 3 boasts a 0-to-60-mph time of just 2.9 seconds But maybe those performance numbers just aren't enough for you. If so, Piedmont, S.C.-based DDMWorks might have a solution.

2014 World Car Awards shortlist announced

The shortlist of finalists for the 2014 World Car Awards (WCAs) has been announced, revealing the cars that will compete for the 2014 World Car of the Year, as well as the World Luxury Car, the World Performance Car, the World Green Car and the World Car Design 2014 awards. MSN Cars’ very own Peter Burgess is amongst the 69 global motoring journalists who have whittled down the contenders in each of the categories – there are supposed to be 10 of each, but some tied results at this stage mean some of the awards have slightly more finalists this year. The next stage reduces the field down to three cars vying for each award.

Ford Galaxy MPV spied stateside

Autoweek reader and frequent spy-shot contributor Spencer Abbott sends these photos of what appears to be a Ford Galaxy MPV -- or minivan, as we typically call the vehicles stateside -- testing in metropolitan Detroit. The Galaxy received a facelift in 2010, and that appears to be what we're seeing in these photos. Your guess is as good as ours as to why the vehicle was out and about near Ford's Dearborn, Mich., headquarters.