Craftsman (item#: 44807) 1/4" Quick Release Ratchet!!! on 2040-parts.com

Porsche Macan gets 2.0 litre 4-cylinder petrol engine

Porsche Macan gets 2.0 litre 4-Cylinder petrol engine The new Porsche Macan looks set to change the rules for the compact SUV market, with class best handling and dynamics and performance that beats many a focused hot hatch. But despite beliefs Porsche would offer its first 4-cylinder engine in a generation at launch, the only engines on offer were a 3.0 litre diesel in the Macan S Diesel, a 3.0 V6 Turbo in the Macan S and a 3.6 litre turbo in the Macan Turbo, with expectations that the Macan wouldn’t get a four-cylinder engine util the end of 2014. But it looks like an early arrival for the four-pot Macan with news it’s getting a new 2.0 litre 4-cylinder petrol engine which delivers 237bhp and 258lb/ft of torque, enough to get the Macan to 62mph in 6.9 seconds and offer official economy of 37.6mpg.

McLaren Special Operations: Bespoke bits for your McLaren

McLaren Special Operations - your McLaren, your way We reported last week that McLaren had taken a customised MP4-12C to Pebble Beach and that it heralded the start of ‘McLaren Exclusive’ to customise customer cars. We were close, but its actually McLaren Special Operations -  and not McLaren Exclusive –  that’s doing the customising. But the principle is the same; McLaren will do pretty much anything you want done to your McLaren – as they always have – but with the McLaren Road Car division growing all the time it will all now come under the banner of the new  McLaren Special Operations division.

Vauxhall Astra VXR (2012) gets 282bhp + new GTC photos

Astra GTC Concept Paris Vauxhall sneaked us a peek at the 2012 Vauxhall Astra VXR a couple of weeks ago – slightly titivated and called the Astra GTC Concept admittedly – but the 2012 Vauxhall Astra VXR none the less. And we ran the story, even though there was precious little to say beyond they’d turned the ‘blades’ round on the doors to make it look more butch and that it’d turn up when the 3 door Astra does in a years time. But Vauxhall has decided to throw a little more out there, so we get images of the interior and some firm (ish) news on the oily bits.