Invercargill-based Automotive Engine Reconditioners is celebrating 10 years in business this month with an open day on tomorrow (Sat July 31st).

Lots has changed with the company since it first opened its doors back in 2000. With a large showroom full of nothing but oil packs and engine parts A.E.R needed to expand and opened its tyre and performance division in 2001.  As staff numbers grew the time was right to purchase another local engine reconditioners and expand, in 2005 the first automotive technician was hired and A.E.R can now take care of all your mechanical, reconditioning, engineering and wheel and tyre needs.

As a big thank you to loyal customers and suppliers for their continuous support, A.E.R will be having a open day this Saturday, July 31, there will be a special ‘big cake’ prize draw with plenty of different prizes to give away including a brand new set of mag wheels. The Rock radio station will be there lending a hand so if you’re in the area, head on down from midday and check it out.

To find out more about Automotive Engine Reconditioners, click here to visit the website.

Contrary to recent rumours, Toyota’s eagerly anticipated FT-86 is still on track for a 2011 launch. Toyota recently held at press event in Japan in order to get some things straight about its Toyota G’s performance vehicles. Naturally, there were many questions about the FT-86 (or FR-S). Although it was reported a few months ago that the sports coupe would be delayed until 2013 for design and powerplant reasons, now it’s back on schedule with a release date of November 2011.

Clarity on the lineup was offered as well, there will be three spec levels  with at least two engine options, and the mid-range model is expected to cost around 2.5 million yen ($39,550 NZ). The top dog model will be a turbocharged variant which will add appeal to drifters and tuners. Apparently, there will be no hybrid drivetrains – that tech is being reserved for a different sporty product.

Check back as we bring you more info on the development of the FT-86.

Those of you who are into the Facebook games might be sick to death of farming, restaurant owning and being a ganglord so now there is a new auto-themed offering. Named Car Town it’s set to be Facebook’s first free car game.

Car Town follows a similar formula to other Facebook games you build up your credits by serving customers, trading items and challenging friends to battles  but Car Town definitely has something to offer car enthusiasts.

There’s a strong focus on collecting and customising toy-like versions of real-world cars, from the humble Toyota Yaris to the hardcore Lamborghini LP 670-4 SuperVeloce. Car Town brings a Sims-style gaming experience to the car world, except in a dumbed down fashion.

Naturally you can challenge your Facebook friends to a race but Car Town is more about collecting cars. To do this you need to win challenges, keep your car shop running at a profit and that will get you that larger garage of desirable rides.

In terms of modifying your car, you can do so extensively there’s a range of body kits, wheels, paint schemes and graphics to choose from. Show-style or no-bull racecar, the options seem nearly endless, and undoubtedly increase over time.

The cars and garage layouts can be edited, so all-up Car Town offers a highly-polished take on a favourite gaming genre.

Car Town fills an obvious void in the realm of Facebook games, and car-tuning enthusiasts will be pleased to see not only a wide-ranging selection of real-world cars, but also a wealth of real brands in the alloy wheel shop, including track favourites Volk and HRE.

Check it out at http://apps.facebook.com/cartown

You think you’re a pretty awesome at parallel parking, don’t you? Well we all do really, it’s in the blood, but now one kiwi male can actually lay legitimate claim to being the world’s best at parallel parking.

Local hero Peter Bell has parked a Toyota Corolla in a space that’s just 27 cm longer than the car, on the set of the NZ Smashes Guinness World Records TV show at the North Harbour Stadium in Auckland. He didn’t just back it in nice and gentle either, Bell ripped up the handbrake and put the Corolla into a 180-degree spin into the park in one tidy piece of work.

The previous record for the tightest parallel parking was held by the Chinese and it was set at 32 cm, which represents the space remaining between the parked car, and the two vehicles in the front and at the rear. Bell’s first attempt took him to a new tightest parallel parking world record of 31 cm. The following attempts got him even further setting the new Guinness World Record of 27 cm.

Watch the video below to see the record breaking parking and to see the show’s host Mark Ellis almost wet himself with fake excitement. Read the full story »