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

Magna Electronics develops 'Touchskin' concept [w/video]

Electronics firm Magna is working on a new technology it calls 'Touchskin concept' that has the potential to eliminate traditional switches and instruments inside vehicles. As part of its ‘Intelligent Surface Technology', the Touchskin concept is set to be an integral part of a system that allows the user to control the car via intuitive gestures – such as pinching, tapping and swiping – as we've become so familiar with when using smartphones. The potential design implications are easy to see with the large amount of space made available by removing the traditional instrument cluster and its wiring and the removal of wired-in switches and buttons.

It’s the Skoda Citigo, Skoda’s take on the VW Up!

Skoda Citigo If the latest addition to the Skoda range – the Skoda Citigo – looks familiar, that’s because it’s the Czech maker’s take on Volkswagen’s own city car, the VW Up! It gets a daft name too, but at least it doesn’t get the exclamation at the end. Sensibly, with a big chunk of the world falling in love with little cars designed for use in our congested cities (and about time too), Skoda has chosen to jump on the bandwagon quickly with its Citigo, with the baby Skoda arriving on its home turf – the Czech Republic – this year and the rest of Europe by Summer 2012.

Aston Martin creates three special-edition DB9s

Aston Martin has designed three special-edition DB9 models named Carbon Black, Quantum Silver and Morning Frost. The Carbon Black and Quantum Silver models are both sport editions with a six-speed Touchtronic II automatic transmission and a remapped sports exhaust that provides a more evocative sound, the automaker said. Both cars come equipped with 19-inch, black 10-spoke wheels, a black grille and graphite tailpipes.