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

Meet the Porsche Macan small SUV

The small Porsche SUV that goes on sale about 18 months will wear the Macan nameplate, the German automaker said on Thursday. Until now, the SUV project had been known by the code name Cajun, created from the concept of “Cayenne Junior.” Porsche says Macan is “derived from the Indonesian word for tiger and combines suppleness, power, fascination and dynamics.” The Porsche Macan will share a platform with the Audi Q5 and will be built at the Porsche plant in Leipzig, Germany, that now builds the Cayenne. Porsche is spending $650 million to expand the Leipzig plant, adding a body shop and a paint shop.

GM donates Insignia prototype to Coventry University

Though the cloud of uncertainty is currently looming over General Motors' Opel and Vauxhall brands, the economic climate hasn't deterred its Vauxhall division from showing a bit of generosity. Recognizing the burgeoning talent at one of the UK's leading design schools, the British arm of the American automotive giant recently offered car design students from Coventry's School of Art & Design an Insignia prototype, which will be used for 'real life' styling exercises. "We are delighted that Vauxhall has chosen to donate this vehicle to the university for our students to work with.

GMC Granite concept (w/ Video)

The biggest surprise at the 2010 NAIAS was GMC's Granite concept - a design that expands (or rather contracts) the truck/crossover brand's 'professional grade' philosophy to a compact hatchback aimed at urban hipsters and early adopters. Conceived by Frank Saucedo's Advanced Design team in California and then built at GM's Design Center in Detroit, the Granite combines the basic proportions of the Nissan Cube and Scion xB with a military/industrial feel inspired by the current G-Star and Diesel fashion lines. Watch the videos to the left to see the young international design team present the rationale behind the new concept, and read our opinion of the Granite in our 2010 Detroit Auto Show Highlights.