1996 Yamaha V Max 600 Primary Drive Clutch on 2040-parts.com

Ariel's Atom returns faster than ever

BRITISH firm Ariel has announced an upgraded version of its sensational Atom sportscar that is faster than ever, making it one of the quickest cars on sale today. The Atom 3.5R showcases a number of upgrades over the outgoing model which contribute to the sensational performance. The 2.0-litre Honda V-TEC engine has had its supercharger revised to give 350bhp and over 240lb.ft of torque, while the gearbox is now a six-speed paddleshift system that can manage five downshifts in less than a second.

New Peugeot 108 revealed ahead of Geneva debut

The new Peugeot 108 (pictured) revealed ahead of a Geneva debut The new Peugeot 108, revealed this morning ahead of a Geneva Motor Show debut, is Peugeot’s new take on the city car and, certainly at first look, it seems a good effort. We always liked the Peugeot 107 and its ability to look better than its Citroen and Toyota siblings, be nippy and frugal around town and small enough to park almost anywhere. And although the new Peugeot 108 looks more grown-up, it does seem to promise what the 107 delivered but in a more sophisticated package.

Algae-powered street lights eat CO2

Algae powered street lighting (great Photoshop) A French biochemist – Pierre Calleja – has developed a street lighting system using micro algae that absorbs CO2. The need to reduce CO2 in the atmosphere is contentious - to say the least – but as long as governments use CO2 as a stick to beat motorists and empty their bank accounts it’s sensible to look at ways of ‘balancing’ the CO2 emissions of cars. French biochemist Pierre Calleja thinks he’s come up with a solution that would neutralise CO2 emissions from cars by cancelling it out with his micro-algae lighting.