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

Driven: Range Rover Evoque

As Sam Livingstone opines in his review of the latest Porsche 911, we are in a period of car design consolidation, with the new 911 the ultimate expression of a slightly suffocating trend. Yet every so often, a vehicle appears that breaks these rules and – through a combination of factors that can be difficult to quantify – captures the imagination, becoming a symbol of the times and an overnight market success. Such vehicles tend to emerge once a decade or so, yet the late 90s and early noughties were extraordinary for giving birth to three – the Ford Ka of '96, Audi TT of '98 and Mini of '01.

MG and 'Rover' set to re-join forces

By Keith Adams Motor Industry 03 July 2007 01:29 Reports in China suggest that Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp (SAIC) is once again in talks with Nanjing Automobile Corp (NAC), the owners of the MG marque and the Longbridge factory. The deal is being backed by Chinese government, which wants to see more cars sold in export markets. Are we looking at the creation of a latter day MG Rover based in the Far East?

Seat Toledo concept [w/gallery]

The Seat Toledo returns to the market as a compact (4,480mm) sedan that sits between the B-segment Ibiza and larger Leon hatchback. The Toledo – and its Skoda and Audi siblings – marks a return to the lower end of the sedan market and sensible family transport. Whether this translates into Seat's supposed youthful image remains to be seen, but from the initial press images, little of the ‘dynamic lines' form introduced on the Ibiza by former design chief Luc Donckerwolke appear.