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

Kia Rio (2011): first sketches of new supermini

It never rains, it pours in Kiaworld, it seems. Not long after showing us the new Kia Picanto city car last week and the KV7 concept car at this week's 2011 Detroit auto show, today Kia publishes these first design sketches of the new Rio. It's Kia's supermini to compete with the likes of the Ford Fiesta, Vauxhall Corsa and VW Polo.

MINI Baker Street and MINI Bayswater arrive

MINI Bayswater and MINI Baker Street Two new MINI Special Editions named after London districts arrive in the form of the MINI Baker Street and MINI Bayswater. MINI decided around this time last year that they would name all future limited editions after London districts, since which time we’ve had the MINI Hampton and MINI Pimlico followed by the MINI Soho and even the MINI London to get a bit of extra mileage out of BMW’s Olympics 2012 sponsorship. And now we get the MINI Baker Street and MINI Bayswater.

Survey claims winter prompts increase in in-car tensions

NEW research conducted by the RAC puts the traditional winter blues in the shade, as the motoring organisation’s survey has uncovered a new phenomenon: "carguments". According to the RAC’s poll of 1,300 drivers, as many as 54% of motorists say they have arguments in the car – hence the ‘cargument’ - at this time of year when the days are short and the weather is miserable. A total of 15% of drivers and passengers said they argue more in the car than anywhere else, with 19% saying the mere act of driving left them stressed and angry, and 14% feeling cooped up in a car.