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

Finalists announced in exterior phase of CDN-GM Interactive Design competition

The exterior phase of the CDN-GM Interactive Design competition closed on the November 7th, with over 150 entries from design students based in the USA and Canada, making it our most popular interactive competition phase so far. After the press days of the recent LA Auto Show, judges and mentors from GM, along with our competition partners Dassault Systèmes, Faurecia and SRG Global, gathered at GM's North Hollywood advanced design studio to pick the finalists. Those chosen will be invited to attend the 2012 NAIAS in Detroit, along with finalists from the interiors phase, and on the second press day, interiors and exterior winners will be announced for each brand.

Bentley Hybrid setup works across Bentley’s range of engines

You’ll be able to have a hybrid powertrain across Bentley’s range of engines With car makers increasingly hidebound by ever more stringent economy targets, even makers of the world’s most expensive, luxury cars are having to play ball. Which explains why Bentley has decided to go the hybrid route for their cars, with the debut of the Bentley Hybrid, a Mulsanne with the 6¾ litre V8 under the bonnet aided by an electric motor and a bank of batteries, at the Beijing Motor Show. It seems the Bentley hybrid solution – which is claimed to increase power by 25 per cent and improve emissions and economy by 70 per cent – is very similar to that used across the VW Group range, with an electric motor between the engine and transmission fed by a bank of batteries.

VW E-Bugster – it’s the electric love-child of a Beetle and a Porsche 356

VW E-Bugster Volkswagen has revealed the VW E-Bugster at the Detroit Auto Show, a squashed VW Beetle with big wheels and the electric motor from the Golf EV. Maybe it’s early and our eyes and brains aren’t in gear yet. But the VW E-Bugster – an electric customised VW Beetle – looks like it’s a cross between a California surfin’ chopped Beetle and a Porsche 356.