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

Rolls Royce bucks the downturn

[ad#ad-1] All we seem to have written about recently is the doom and gloom in the car industry. Bail-outs begged for, production shut-downs, low sales and lay-offs. But one manufacturer seems to be defying the odds, and has just posted record sales figures for the year.

Skoda confirms two new models

Skoda Vision D at Geneva - Skoda's new design direction It’s now got to the point with Skoda where the skip-on-wheels reputation of the ’70s and ’80s – and even the ‘Cheap’ VW tag of the ’90s and ’00s – has been completely eclipsed by the perception of Skoda as quite simply the maker of some crackingly good cars. Cars like the brilliant little Skoda Fabia vRS – which we’d take over the Polo GTI (much more character) – and the equally brilliant Skoda Yeti which, although it might not quite live up to Clarkson’s recent tongue-in-cheek assertion as the best car in the world is, nonetheless, exceptionally good. That change in perception is clear in the confident model range on offer from Skoda and the clever way in which it’s marketed.

Automakers sign up to Apple 'Eyes Free' Siri button

Apple has announced that the leading carmakers have signed up for the addition of an ‘Eyes Free' button that will activate Siri for in-car Apple products. Siri – the innovative voice activation system developed for the 4S, Apple's latest iPhone – can be activated by pressing a steering wheel mounted button and allows the driver to access the same information available when not driving. Apple reported at its 2012 Worldwide Developer's Conference that Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, Toyota, Land Rover, Jaguar, Chrysler and Honda have all signed up to offer Eyes Free within the next 12 months.