Moog K7106 Idler Arm on 2040-parts.com

McLaren Special Operations (MSO) P1 and 650 S Spider Pebble Beach debut

The McLaren P1 MSO (pictured) will debut at Pebble Beach 2014 It may be Jaguar Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations in the news at the moment, but McLaren’s own Special Operations has been around since 2011, creating extreme examples of McLaren’s cars for deep-pocketed customers. And they’re back with two new MSO specials for this month’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. The most impressive of the two MSO cars is, of course, a special edition of the already very special McLaren P1.

Nigel Mansell Le Mans debut 2010

Nigel Mansell & Sons - Le Mans entrants 2010 Nigel Mansell is still one of our best known racing drivers, despite it being more than a year or two since he hung up his F1 helmet. But that hasn’t stopped him enjoying time behind the wheel of a fast motor or two and guiding the motor racing careers of his sons, Leo and Greg. Last year, perhaps a little tongue in cheek whilst being interviewed by Radio 2 jock and Ferrari nut Chris Evans, Nigel expressed a desire to get back in to F1 and said he could “…jump in a Ferrari [F1] tomorrow and be competitive.” But going backwards is not usually a sensible route – as Michael Schumacher can currently testify - but new challenges – whatever your age – are to be relished.

Mercedes-Benz courts Renault for new Smart model based on Twingo

Mercedes-Benz is set to join forces with Renault in a deal aimed at providing its underdeveloped Smart division with a contemporary-engineered front-engine/front-wheel-drive platform as the basis for a frugal new Forfour model. The new Smart, due out in 2013, is planned to sit on a lightly modified version of the Renault Twingo’s underpinnings, complete with a 93.3-inch wheelbase. Speaking about the new car over the weekend, a highly placed Mercedes-Benz official told AutoWeek: “It’s a key component in plans to grow the Smart brand.