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

MINI Countryman Cooper & Paceman Cooper get ALL4 4WD

The MINI Countryman Cooper (pictured) & Paceman Cooper get ALL4 4WD We always find it astonishing that car makers ‘ration’ the availability of four wheel drive platforms in their cars, usually citing a ‘lack of demand’. But that lack of demand is usually predicated on the lack of supply, and increasing the supply of 4WD cars would see more sold, especially after a series of harsh winters where many motorists struggled to keep their cars in a straight line. So the decision by BMW to extend the availability of their ALL4 4WD setup to a wider range of MINIs is welcome, with the petrol Countryman Cooper and Paceman Cooper now getting the ALL4 option too.

Toyota Yundong Shuangqing, Dear Qin concept cars at Beijing

If you want an idea of how important the Beijing motor show has become, get this: Toyota showed 38 production and concept cars in China this week. But two stood out: the Yundong Shuangqing and Dear Qin concept cars. Great names!

VW New Compact Coupe at Detroit motor show 2010

This is Volkswagen’s New Compact Coupé (or NCC for short), a new coupé concept car just unveiled at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show. And although it’s just a show car for now, this gorgeous A5-alike two-door is expected to go into production within the next two years. Under the bonnet is a 148bhp/177lb ft direct-injection and turbocharged 1.4-litre TSI engine, which drives the front wheels via a seven-speed DSG gearbox.