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

Why Ford’s Euro design is changing: Joel Piaskowski replaces Martin Smith

By Tim Pollard Motor Industry 28 May 2014 14:30 Ford today confirmed that it is shaking up its European design team, as it appoints Joel Piaskowski to replace the retiring Martin Smith. Smith, 64, has led Ford of Europe’s design team for a decade and is the father of the brand’s edgy ‘kinetic design’, but will step down on 1 July 2014, it was announced this afternoon. Before he retires fully at the end of the year Smith will work with the Blue Oval’s vice president of design, Moray Callum, on a global project looking at the future of Ford design.

Skoda Octavia vRS to hit 200mph at Bonneville

The Skoda Octavia vRS - Bonneville bound. Skoda has come a very long way since Volkswagen rescued it from the ignominy of the communist era, and restored the pride to the Czech car maker. But even though the Skoda of today is now a mainstream maker of quality cars, things haven’t changed so much that they are about to launch a 200mph Skoda, or at least not one you can pop to your local Skoda dealers and get a VAT-free deal on.

BMW releases M Performance accessories for 2-Series Coup

The BMW 2-series is set to replace the 1-series coupe that we've had on this side of the Atlantic come next spring, and a few months prior to its U.S. debut BMW has rolled out M Performance upgrades for the upcoming coupe. That's right, the 1-series will no longer be sold in the U.S., so there won't be any 2014 models.