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

2012 Hyundai Veloster stickers at $18,060

Hyundai has set the base price of the 2012 Veloster with six-speed manual transmission at $18,060, including destination. The three-door Veloster will also be available with six-speed EcoShift dual-clutch transmission for $19,310. Hyundai says it means for the front-wheel-drive car to appeal to the same group of buyers as the Mini Cooper, the Volkswagen Beetle and the Scion tC.

BMW Gran Coupé

BMW has announced its interpretation of the four-door coupé. Following in the footsteps of the Audi A7, Mercedes-Benz's CLS and the Porsche Panamera, the Gran Coupé is said to offer a level of practicality missing from its premium rivals. First unveiled in concept format, back at the 2007 Shanghai motor show as the Concept CS, the concept fell foul of the global recession before resurfacing at Beijing last year – again, in concept format.

Mercedes GLA goes subterranean

FOR SUV owners looking to test their cars’ off-road credentials, the obvious place to put them to the test probably isn’t nearly 200 metres underground. But that’s exactly where the new Mercedes GLA found itself as it descended into Winsford Rock Salt Mine, 620 feet beneath the Cheshire countryside. The working mine, which supplies much of the UK’s gritting salt for wintry roads, played host to four standard (apart from extra driving lights) GLA models, which were lowered down into the mine nose first before being let loose in the 130-mile network of tunnels.