Under the Hood: A new 2.4 literDOHC 16-valve inline four that makes 185 hp.

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The 4.3-liter, four-cam, 32-valve V8 engine can race from zero to 60 mph in a respectable 5.9 seconds (the same as the V8 7-Series), throwing out 290 horsepower and 320 pound-feet of torque at 3, 400 rpm.

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Known for its four-stroke 90-degree V-twin engines and its unique valve design, Ducati has carved out an impressive racing record, highlighted by its 2007 Grand Prix World Championship win.

WSJ: At the Heart of Ducati

That's partly because Britain's labour and product markets are more flexible than many of its neighbours': the labour market has a safety valve in the form of the 1m workers who arrived from central and eastern Europe over the past four years and are now beginning to go home.

ECONOMIST: Britain's economy