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

New Mercedes A Class: Production increased to meet demand

With over 70,000 orders already in the pipeline for the new Mercedes A Class, Mercedes are increasing production to meet demand. The increase in production at Mercedes plant in Rastatt, Germany, means adding a third shift to effectively increase production by almost 50 per cent and make a dent in the 70k plus orders Mercedes already has for the new A Class. That’s in stark contrast to the recent news that Mercedes is having to slash production of the S Class as sales falter, partly due to a new S Class in the pipeline for 2013 but also because buyers are falling in love with more compact offerings.

In pictures: the new £5m Haynes International Motor Museum

Anyone who has headed to the West Country on the A303 over the past two and a half years can’t have failed to notice the building work going on at the Haynes International Motor Museum. The museum - which first opened its doors in 1985 - has been the subject of a £5 million modernisation project. But finally - some ten years after the original plans were drawn up - the new and much improved Haynes International Museum is now open to the public.

Women’s World Car of the Year 2011: Citroen DS3 & BMW 5-Series

Women's World Car of the Year (WWCOTY) 2011 - DS3 & 5 Series tie We’ll decline to question too much what the response would be if a panel of male motoring writers voted for a ‘Man’s World Car of the Year Award’. Although we’d speculate that most women would consider that every other car awards is exactly that. But just as we did in 2009, we find the 2011 Women’s World Car of the Year Award winners to be in accord with what any panel of knowledgeable car bods would vote for, with the wonderful Citroen DS3 and the exceptional BMW 5-Series tying as winners.