1989 Mercury Mariner Cylinder Block/crankcase (6/8/9.9) 8473a 12, 8906a 1 on 2040-parts.com

Petrol cars twice as likely to fail MOT on emissions

The latest MOT test data shows that 26.2% of all cars tested fail on excess exhaust emissions – and surprisingly petrol cars fail more than twice as often as diesels in this part of the annual roadworthiness test. According to the official Vehicle Operator and Standard Agency (VOSA) figures, which cover all of 2010 and the first nine months of 2011, 9.7% of petrol cars failed to meet MOT emissions standards compared to just 3.9% of diesels. On Bing: see pictures of the MOT test Find out how much a used car with 12 months MOT costs on Auto Trader The analysis has been carried out by fuel additive “provider” Redex, which naturally has an interest in the findings, since its products are designed to breakdown engine deposits and improve efficiency.

Carroll Shelby honored with Keith Crain achievement award

Famed car designer Carroll Shelby received the 2011 Keith Crain/Automotive News Lifetime Achievement Award on Thursday evening during the Washington auto show. The award is given annually to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the auto industry. "I accept this award with all of the humility a person could have," Shelby said.

Honda Ridgeline may be near the end of the line

Honda is likely to kill the poor-selling Ridgeline unibody pickup after the 2011 model year. "There will be a model-year 2011 Honda Ridgeline but we haven't announced anything beyond that," Honda spokeswoman Christina Ra said. The Ridgeline was introduced in 2005, sharing some chassis components with the Acura MDX SUV.