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

MIT develops self-transforming materials that behave 'like robots without robots'

A cross-disciplinary research lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has developed a suite of programmable materials, including carbon fiber, printed wood grain, textile composites, rubbers and plastics, that self-transform when exposed to an external stimulus. Director of the Self-Assembly Lab, Skylar Tibbits, presented a TED talk on 4D printing in 2013, where he demonstrated how a flat sheet of material could effectively build itself when exposed to water, like a robot without a robot. Following positive feedback from industries including aviation, automotive and manufacturing, his lab has been working on developing materials that change according to different activation sources, including heat, light, and air pressure, in addition to water – all of which have automotive relevance.

Cuba loosens some limits on selling cars

For decades, driving down the streets of Cuba was like entering an automotive time warp. The streets are full of cars from the 1950s, and there's virtually nothing modern. But with an announcement by President Raul Castro last week, the strict rules are going to be relaxed a bit, and Cubans and foreign residents now have the right to buy and sell cars made after 1959.

Honda Civic Ti (2012) first official pictures

Honda has glued a few glitzy bits to the latest Civic in recognition of its British Touring Car Championship participation, to create the new Civic Ti. The 5-door ‘race-inspired’ Civic is based on the 1.8 SE model, but comes with colour-coded wheel arches and some 17-inch ‘Le Mans’ alloy wheels. If that’s not enough to send you running down to the dealership, then Honda hopes the addition of a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gearstick might.