Mechanics M558db 1/2" Dr Impact Wrench on 2040-parts.com

Inside the Mini compound

Visitors surrender their passports upon entering Mini headquarters in Germany. It's for security reasons mainly, and obviously the passports are returned on the way out. But the symbolism is obvious: Mini is a world a way from parent BMW.

McLaren shows off its MP4-12C GT3 racer

McLaren GT, comprised of a partnership between the British company and CRS Racing, has unveiled its new GT3 race car based on the forthcoming MP4-12C sports car. This is the first McLaren built for FIA GT racing since the F1 GTR took to the track before production ended in 1997. "McLaren has racing in its blood, and it was a natural step to take our MP4-12C road car and turn it into the most reliable, efficient and easy-to-drive GT3 car," said Martin Whitmarsh, the McLaren Group's chief executive officer.

Kia Track’ster is a bonkers 4wd 250bhp concept

The barking mad Kia Tracks'ter The Kia Trackster Concept has been revealed as a three-door, 250bhp, 4WD track version of the Soul. The Kia Soul may not be thye first car you’d think of turning in to a hot hatch, but that hasn’t stopped the Kia Track’ster arriving as a concept at the Chicago Motor Show today. Based on the Soul, the Tracks’ter (those Kia apostrophes again) gets 4WD, loses its back seats to what Kia call an “Integrated Equipment Tray” instead, gets a 2.0 litre turbo with 250bhp mated to a six-speed ‘box and a set of 19″ alloys.