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

Design Services: Car Menu launched

Within almost every automotive design department throughout the world, their comes a time when a junior designer is dispatched to find a picture of some new model's tail lamp, the side view of a particular class leading competitor or examples of several new cars' colour and trim packages. Whilst looking at the competition is not necessarily a healthy way of finding ideas, it is often essential to demonstrate what is feasible, check in-house proposals are not too derivative, or show how advanced a design theme is relative to the same type of cars on the market. But even if the particular aspect of a car can be found, press packs and magazines typically show cars in the flattering light of an exotic location or being drifted around a corner on opposite lock; rarely are these images particularly useful.

Audi reveals 2014 TT interior at CES

To reveal a new car’s interior before we’ve even seen a concept sketch of the whole vehicle sketch seems odd. But nevertheless, that’s exactly what Audi has done with its 2014 TT, unveiling the car’s cabin at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. The German firm’s choice of venue is significant, too, underlining how the new TT will “come with a new generation of electronics and connectivity features.” On Bing: see pictures of the 2014 Audi TT Find out how much a used Audi TT costs on Auto Trader The new TT will feature the same “Audi virtual cockpit” as the Audi Sport Quattro laserlight concept – also unveiled at CES 2014 – representing the first appearance of the new tech  a production Audi.

Approved mechanics essential for quality service

DRIVERS need to make sure their car is being properly serviced by a qualified mechanic, says the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI). To help drives do this, it has launched a government-backed scheme called the Professional Register. While there are around 175,000 people in the UK who call themselves automotive technicians, the IMI says it can only recommend around 27,000 as having the required skills and competence to carry out work to the required standard in their specialism.