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

When car design meets Art Nouveau

Gray Design has revealed a new concept car called the Nouvair, inspired by the Art Nouveau design movement. The Nouvair, a retro-looking coupé complete with a long hood and trailing rear end, takes inspiration from the techniques and flowing lines favored by one of the pioneers of the movement, Czech painter and decorative artist Alphonse Mucha. Despite the release of five pictures, Gray Design didn't reveal any technical details, just confirmation of its name and its inspiration.

Michelin Challenge Design 2007: The not so ugly truth about rising vehicle safety standards

Can cars be safe and beautiful at the same time? That may not have been the case a few decades ago when automakers were forced to hang those big, ugly so-called federal bumpers off the ends of their vehicles.  With vehicle safety standards on the rise around the globe are designers today feeling a little '70s deja vu when it comes to meeting the challenges of making cars safe as well as more fuel efficient? "(Back then) we said it was the end of automotive styling," says Patrick Le Quement, senior vice president for corporate design at Renault and one of the world's most influential automotive designers.

Audi A1 quattro costs £41,020

The Audi A1 quattro is coming to the UK The Audi A1 quattro Limited Edition has been confirmed for the UK – although in LHD – with just 19 cars coming to the UK priced at £41,020. When the Limited Edition Audi A1 quattro was revealed just before Christmas, we did warn you that it would probably cost in the region of £30 when the 333 A1 quattros arrived this year. But we were wrong.