25 Hp Mercury Mariner Crankcase 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.

Beijing motor show 2012 highlights

The 2012 Beijing motor show proves yet again that the balance of power and influence in the car industry continues to shift east. With a number of global debuts from both international and domestic brands, the show – which alternates between Beijing and Shanghai – is now a must-attend event in our calendar. In case you missed our CDNLive coverage, here's a chance to catch up: Citroen: DS: an object lesson in how to create a premium brand Citroen DS Numero 9 highlights Dongfeng: Dongfeng’s Hummer Fiat: What came first, the Viaggio or the Dart?

Driven: Ford Focus

The previous two generations of the Ford Focus have consistently been near the top of the European best sellers list over their combined 13-year life spans, but this new car has even greater responsibility. This is the first Focus designed – from the outset – for European, American and Asian markets combined. The biggest, most pertinent question is whether the global 'One Ford' strategy this car has been designed under can work in practice.