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

2013 VW Beetle Convertible: Price from £18,150

After a reveal in October, the New Volkswagen Beetle Convertible has debuted at the Los Angeles Auto Show and will cost from £18,150 in the UK. In fact, not only does the Beetle refuse to go away, it’s selling better than the ‘old’ Beetle ever did, with 230,000 Beetles built since the Beetle was revived eight years ago, only 100,000 fewer than the old Beetle sold in its 31 year history. And the new VW Beetle promises to be more appealing than the first iterations of VW’s revival of the Beetle, with their strapline for the latest model setting out its intentions clearly: ‘Less Flower – More Power’.

Will your next new car stop itself?

Last week in Park City, Utah, a group of us were discussing the chutzpah that some manufacturers have in charging hundreds of dollars for outboard mirrors that dip downward when the vehicle's placed in reverse. The consensus was, “Since the electric motors in the mirrors are already there, and the computers know the car's set to back up, it's only a line of code. A very expensive line of code.” The European Union seems to be thinking along the same lines.

Jaguar lines up 4-, 6-cylinder engines

Jaguar hasn't offered a four-cylinder engine since 1948 and no V6 since the small, lackluster X-Type was pulled from the United States four years ago. But in an era of mpg obsession, even this proud British luxury brand is changing. Jaguar will offer four- and six-cylinder engines in two of its three car lines, starting this fall.