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

Luxury Ford Mondeo Vignale concept revealed

Would you buy a posh Mondeo? Ford is betting that some people will, as next year sees the Blue Oval introduce a new Vignale trim level and equipment package that offers not just more style and luxury for your money but also an exclusive, premium customer and ownership experience. As a precursor to this move, Ford has today unveiled a pair of Mondeo Vignale Concept cars, one based on the next-generation Mondeo saloon, the other on the estate.

Nissan ‘Think Outside the Parking Box’ competition

Nissan, in collaboration with designboom, has launched an international graphic design competition with a theme to design the future of urban parking. Entitled 'Think Outside the Parking Box', registration to the competition is open to professionals, students, and design enthusiasts until September 27th, 2009. Based around Nissan's Qashqai urban crossover - currently marketed as being 'urbanproof' - the brief calls for entries that challenge any element of urban parking, be it underground, exterior, interior, multi-layer or ground level.

Ecclestone wants to bring the noise

FORMULA ONE supremo Bernie Ecclestone has vowed to address growing concerns surrounding the sport's lack of an appealing noise. Following Sunday's season-opening Australian Grand Prix, Ron Walker, chairman of the organising company that stages the race, complained to close friend Ecclestone about the lack of sound. The piercing scream of the old V8 engine has gone, and in its place we now have a huskier tone, complete with whistles and whirrs from the 1.6-litre V6 turbo as F1 tries to become greener.