Arias Pistons 12.5:1 Compression 82mm Bore Honda B-series on 2040-parts.com

Poll finds electric car 'confusion'

CONSUMER confusion is the main reason why electric car sales have failed to spark, according to a survey of motorists. Lack of understanding about the practicalities of electric cars is deepest among those keen to buy one, the survey by market research company GfK Automotive found. Just 8% of the 3,161 motorists polled said they would definitely or probably buy an electric car at some stage.

Mercedes GLA goes subterranean

FOR SUV owners looking to test their cars’ off-road credentials, the obvious place to put them to the test probably isn’t nearly 200 metres underground. But that’s exactly where the new Mercedes GLA found itself as it descended into Winsford Rock Salt Mine, 620 feet beneath the Cheshire countryside. The working mine, which supplies much of the UK’s gritting salt for wintry roads, played host to four standard (apart from extra driving lights) GLA models, which were lowered down into the mine nose first before being let loose in the 130-mile network of tunnels.

Land Rover at the Paris motor show 2008

By Ged Maxwell Motor Shows 06 October 2008 09:57 Land Rover unveiled its most fuel-efficient car ever at the French motor show: the new Freelander TD4_e Stop/Start. No prizes for guessing it's a diesel 4x4, whose economy is improved by 3.8mpg and CO2 falls by 8 percent. Tell me more about the Freelander TD4_e Stop/StartLand Rover has been harping on about its new green technologies for quite a while – so it's a relief finally to see a production car (rather than the far-fetched concepts we've become used to) bristling with eco kit applied.