Propulse 6902 Propeller / 10.4" X 12"-16" / Adjustable Pitch / New on 2040-parts.com

Aston Martin V8 Vantage S (2011) at 2011 Geneva motor show

Good news for fans of Aston Martin's V8 Vantage, and especially those who found it a touch slow: the new, musclier V8 Vantage S.  The Aston Martin Vantage S is a tweaked-up version of the regular Vantage, and a full production model. It's the fastest Vantage yet! The biggest change is under the bonnet. The 4.7-litre V8 now has a stouter 430bhp, which makes it 20bhp more powerful than the Vantage N24 and 30bhp up on the N400 special editions.

Faster Gumpert Apollo model to debut in Geneva

They may not be lookers, but there is no denying the performance credentials of Roland Gumpert's Apollo sports cars. With the base 650-hp engine package, the brainchild of the former director of Audi Sport is capable of reaching 60 mph in less than three seconds with a top speed or more than 200 mph. But now Gumpert is planning to reveal a faster chapter in the line at next month's Geneva motor show with the Apollo Speed.

Do Winter Tyres REALLY work? Oh, yes, say Volvo (+ video)

Volvo prove how effective Winter Tyres are in the Snowdome For some reason, the debate on fitting winter tyres in the UK continues to be a debate, even when those who’ve actually used a car fitted with winter tyres swear by them (an argument not helped by previous government advice). So Volvo – safety conscious as ever – decided to prove the point by taking the very good Volvo V40 off to the Snowdome indoor ski slope in Tamworth to see exactly what difference a set of winter tyres makes to the grip available in a regular, FWD, family Volvo. And the results should make every car owner go out and fit winter tyres.