Mercury 250hp Verado Gear Housing Assy. P/n 880687t01 Free Shipping on 2040-parts.com

McLaren MP4-12C to cost £168,500

McLaren will charge £168,500 for the MP4-12C supercar in the UK. That's the new 2011 price, including the rise in VAT from 17.5% to 20% from 1 January. Today's news means that the MP4-12C will cost £1000 less than a Ferrari 458 Italia, its arch rival, at existing tax rates.

Demise of kei cars on the horizon?

The kei car has long been a staple of the Japanese automobile industry and its car culture. Too diminutive for Western markets, the tiny cars and trucks are a strong influencer of design in Japan. Now, as The New York Times reports, the Japanese government has hit kei cars with increases in sales tax, gasoline prices and has reduced the kei car tax break introduced to make the cars popular in the first place by 50 percent.

Ferrari 458 Italia – in the flesh

New Ferrari 458 Italia out testing And today we’ve had drop in to our inbox a picture of a 458 Italia in the flesh, which gives far more idea of perspective than the artfully-lit studio shots Ferrari released. It’s no real surprise that 458s are running around, with the official reveal only a matter of weeks away at the Frankfurt Motor Show. And Ferrari hasn’t gone to huge lengths to disguise this car – just some black and white paintwork.