Acdelco 213-3521 Knock Sensor on 2040-parts.com

Range Rover Sport Overfinch Performance Package gets 545 bhp – price from £87,995

The Overfinch Range Rover Sport (pictured) gets 545 bhp We make no secret of the fact that if you want to spend money on making your Range Rover (or Evoque or Sport) more individual, then the best route is with Overfinch. Overfinch have been making Land Rovers better for almost 40 years, and as long as you exert a little restraint when making your update choices the end result looks like a bespoke OEM car, and not one tricked out by a man who used to be a dresser on Strictly. But Overfinch don’t just do the cosmetic stuff, they also do performance upgrades, and it looks like Overfinch’s new Performance Package for the Range Rover Sport will be on the road before Land Rover gets its Range Rover Sport R (or whatever it’s going to be badged) in showrooms.

Porsche Boxster E (2011): prototype Boxster EV

Porsche recently rolled out the first of three Boxster E electric vehicles, to take part in the 'Electromobility Region Stuttgart' local government initiative in Germany. The Boxster E is powered by two electric motors, capable of a peak power output of 180kW. Energy is stored in a 29kWh battery pack.  Not with the Boxster E. Three electric Boxsters are being built as part of a programme sponsored by the Baden-Wurttemberg state government (Porsche's home state in Germany) and WRS, the Stuttgart Region Economic Development Corporation.  Porsche's hometown of Stuttgart is one of eight model regions participating in a federal pilot programme sponsored by the Minitsry of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs to develop EVs and their supporting infrastructure.  The three Boxster E prototypes will take part in the programme, acting as mobile laboratories for testing EV usage and planning for EVs in urban infrastructure.  CAR's view? We reckon this electric Boxster E is much cooler than your usual EV council van.

Aston Martin & Mercedes join forces

Aston Martin Production will soon see an injection of Mercedes DNA This isn’t the first time we’ve talked about a partnership between Aston Martin and Mercedes, but according to Car & Driver it’s now just about a done deal. As long ago as March 2009 we reported that Mercedes supplied the basis for the Lagonda SUV Concept (a Mercedes GL), and six months later we reported that Aston Martin were working on a Mercedes S-Class based Lagonda saloon. More recently we reported that the GL-based Lagonda SUV was back on and that Mercedes wanted Aston Martin to put together the next generation of Maybach.