Ford Solenoid on 2040-parts.com

Aston Martin DBS R in the works?

Are Aston Martin working on a DBSR - an uprated DBS? If the rumours are true, and we’re starting to think they are, then the DBS will be following in the footsteps of its predecessor – the Aston Martin Vanquish. The Vanq got an upgrade package after a few years to the Vanquish S (but it seems unlikely that AM will dub the upgraded DBS the DBS S, but who knows?).

Ariel Atom 3.5 (2012) first official pictures

It's difficult for Ariel to come up with a mid-life refresh for its cars - there simply aren't that many bits to fiddle with in the first place. Still, the boys from Somerset must have succeeded, because what we have here is the freshly updated Ariel Atom 3.5. As the name suggests, it's a development of the Ariel Atom 3, with a crop of minor visual  tweaks and some mechanical changes too, keeping Caterham and BAC looking over their shoulders.

Toyota talks powertrain plans

After trailing many of its competitors in the recent engine- and transmission-technology wars, Toyota Motor Corp. will launch a swath of powertrains in the next several years, a top powertrain r&d executive said. Koei Saga, senior managing officer in charge of drivetrain r&d, said that Toyota is investing heavily in turbocharged engines, larger displacement Atkinson cycle engines, continuously variable and fixed-gear automatic transmissions, and new hybrid and fuel cell technologies.