Harley Davidson Kick Stand on 2040-parts.com

Hennessey Venom GT hits new, unofficial, speed record (video)

The Hennessey Venom GT (pictured) hist 270.49mph on a NASA runway Top speed records for production cars is starting to seem pretty irrelevant as there’s almost nowhere an owner can ever hope to hit those record speeds. And the performance of cars like the new McLaren P1 – where  performance and handling are much more the focus than outright top speed – has added the the irrelevance. But that doesn’t stop some car makers aiming for the bragging rights of the world’s fastest production car, and John Hennessey and his Hennessey Venom GT are back with another claim on the title.

Avoiding the California Highway Patrol on the Autoweek America Adventure

"Damn revenuers," said Tommy Kendall. "They are draped all along the side of the road." He spoke, of course, about the California Highway Patrol, whose strategically positioned cars--and subsequent laser-detection devices and KA-band radar--were lighting up this two-lane south of Klamath Falls, Ore., less than two miles inside the state line. It's a fact of economics, especially in California, a state that's running out of money faster than Greece.

Volvo V40 gets new Drive-e D4 and T5 engines

The Volvo V40 (pictured) gets Volvo’s new Drive-e engines Last year Volvo revealed its new, efficient and flexible Drive-e engines and plans to offer them in the S60, V60 and XC60 with a 179bhp D4 and a 302bhp T6. Now, the new Volvo V40 is getting Drive-e powertrains. Both the V40 and the V40 Cross Country are getting Drive-e engine options, with both the D4 diersel and T5 petrol coming on-stream from May 2014.