Porsche 356/912 Engine Third Piece Cover on 2040-parts.com

One Lap of the Web: Mock the Week Edition

-- Mazda Europe designer Peter Birthwhistle talks about the future of Mazda: potential hybrid and electric powertrains for the Skyactiv-obsessed company, and how we'll all be driving Mazda-branded pods in the 22nd century. But he also mentions, rather interestingly, how certain Mazdas capture a quintessentially long-hood, RWD look -- and not just the Miata, either, which is RWD. No, it's the exhaust systems on those Skyactiv engines that force a longer, larger hood compartment, and the "long, flowing looks" not usually found on FWD engines.

Lotus won’t be sold – Bahar suspended over expenses

Lotus owners Proton have said that Lotus is not up for sale and reports say Lotus CEO Dany Bahar has been suspended over his expenses. There’s been a lot of show and not much real go since Dany Bahar took over at Lotus. Grandiose plans launch a whole range of supercars from a small niche manufacturer in the flatlands of Norfolk was always a strange call, and the sort of bills loss-making Lotus seems to be meeting make, on the face of it, little commercial sense.

Lamborghini reports drop in profits

Lamborghini has announced a pre-tax loss of £32m for 2009 as the world recession led to a slump in supercar sales. Lambo delivered 1515 supercars last year, down 38% from 2008's 2430.  Turnover dropped 41% to £215m. It's a far cry from the dizzy heights of the boom years.