Standard Motor Products Egv258 Egr Valve on 2040-parts.com

Kia goes (dark) green

By Jesse Crosse Motor Industry 23 September 2008 11:00 Kia has unveiled a portfolio of new environmental technologies, including a 1.4-litre Ceed with stop-start (due in the UK in 2009), a Ceed hybrid and the latest version of its fuel cell-powered Sportage. The Korean manufacturer is investing heavily in research and development and will increase its spend on R&D from £2.2 billion this year to £2.6 billion by 2010, combined with a 40 percent increase in manpower at its research centres around the globe. The money is being spent on developing downsized, turbocharged engines, efficiency improvements to conventional engines such as friction reduction and the separation of accessories like water pumps from the engine.

Natural Balance Pet Foods, Ford to break parade-float record

While most of us are home on Jan. 2, working off a two-day sports hangover, the 123rd Tournament of Roses Parade will take place in Pasadena, Calif., with the world's heaviest and longest parade float--powered by a 6.8-liter Ford V10. The Natural Balance Pet Foods float will measure 116 feet at its longest point and weigh in at 100,000 pounds, all of which is certified by the book of Guinness World Records.

McLaren tests MP4-12C GT3 race car

We know the McLaren MP4-12C is fast. But how about the race-car version? Perhaps lost amid the fanfare of the launch of the production car, McLaren has been hard at work on a competition model, the MP4-12C GT3.