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

Geneva Show 2014: Hot Audi S1 arrives

ONE OF THE smallest cars on the Audi stand at the Geneva Motor Show was also grabbing the most attention, as the German firm unveiled the new S1. Based on the A1, the smallest Audi in the range, the S1 also takes inspiration from the strictly limited edition A1 Quattro that appeared in 2012. Packing a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine under its compact bonnet it is comfortably the fastest A1 in production, with a top speed limited to 155mph and 0-62mph taking 5.8 seconds.

GM to slash global vehicle platforms by more than half, to 14, by 2018

General Motors says it will cut the number of vehicle platforms it uses globally by more than half over the next decade, in a bid to reduce complexity and save on product-development costs. “More of our components will be common, and more of our vehicles will be on global architectures,” GM CEO Dan Akerson told analysts on Tuesday. His remarks came as GM kicked off a series of presentations online, billed as its 2011 Global Business Conference.

Double Success For Ford At Scottish Car Of The Year

FORD is celebrating a double victory at the Scottish Car of the Year awards, where its Fiesta ST took Best Hot Hatch title and Ford’s MyKey technology was judged Innovation of the Year. Commenting the Fiesta ST’s win, Alisdair Suttie, Association of Scottish Motoring Writers president, said: “Buyers of affordable ‘pocket rockets’ are spoiled for choice these days, with power and fuel economy light years better than ever before. Our winner is not the most powerful of the shortlisted cars but its ease of driving and superb chassis won over the judges.” The judges were also impressed by Ford’s MyKey, an industry-first technology which allows parents to programme a key for younger drivers that limits their top speed, reduces maximum radio volume, disables the radio until seat belts are fastened and prevents deactivation of driver assistance and safety technologies.