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

CDN-GM Interactive Design Competition - Exterior Phase Launched

We're pleased to announce the launch of the second phase of the CDN-GM Interactive Design Competition, which challenges design students in North America to create an exterior design in response to briefs from each of GM's four brands – Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC. This second, exterior design phase of the competition – which can be found at www.cardesigncontest.com – follows on from the previous interiors design phase and again challenges students to design against briefs set by each of GM's four brands. Remember, you don't have to have entered or registered for the interiors phase in order to take part in this exterior phase of the competition.

BMW 640d xDrive announced

On Thursday, Greg Kable waxed effusively about the new BMW M550d xDrive coupe, suggesting that it was the ultimate 5-series for everyday use. On Friday, Munich announced that the 5's two-door sibling will receive an AWD diesel variant: the 640d xDrive. While not quite as high-zoot as the 5-series' top oil burner, the 640d's 3.0-liter, twin-turbo straight-six cranks out a respectable 465 lb-ft of almighty torque between 1,500 rpm and 2,500 rpm, plus 313 hp at 4,400 rpm—numbers that, according to BMW, will carry the 6-series to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds.

Vauxhall Astra (2009): the first sketches

By Tim Pollard First Official Pictures 08 September 2008 09:00 Vauxhall has just issued these first official sketches of the new Astra ahead of its launch in 2009 at next year's Frankfurt motor show. Although heavily silhouetted, we can make out an evolution of today's mid-sized hatchback. This sketch is of the coupe-style three-door Astra, but there will again be a more upright five-door and indeed a whole suite of other Astras to fit every pocket.