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

Four Daihatsu concepts for Tokyo 2013 debut

If you thought the old Daihatsu Copen roadster was a bit feminine for a ‘sports’ car, you’ll be pleased with this: Daihatsu’s new, butched-up, small two-seater roadster, the 2014 RMZ Kopen concept. The aggressive-looking mini cabriolet will make its world debut at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show later this month alongside another, rather interesting version of Daihatsu’s didi prototype – the off-road-inspired XMZ Kopen concept. Please click on the image above to read more on the Daihatsu concept cars for Tokyo 2013…

2013 Nissan LEAF updated

Nissan has updated the LEAF EV in Japan for 2013 with better range, less weight and a new LEAF S entry-level model. Revealed in Japan – but likely to come to the UK from 2013 when the LEAF starts rolling out of Nissan’s Sunderland factory – there are significant upgrades to the powertrain which result in both less weight and better range. Nissan has had a play with the electric powertrain and made it both smaller and lighter with a new motor that uses 40 per cent less dysprosium (a rare earth metal) than before, and comes in 30 per cent smaller and 10 per cent lighter, and a new streamline battery case and a few other tweaks drops the LEAF’s weight by 80kg.

Citroen DS Revival – update

We brought you news a few days ago of Citroen’s announcement that they are going to revive the Citroen DS, and launch the first model at the Geneva Motor Show next month. Citroen's DS Inside Concept to show at Geneva Old cynics that we are, we reckoned that this would be nothing more than a bit of badge engineering – Citroen’s ‘Ford Ghia’ moment. And to be honest, the release of the picture you see here, which is Citroen’s DS Inside Concept, and the basis for the first of the ‘DS’ cars, the DS3, hasn’t really changed our minds much.