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

Renault Kwid Concept is a bonkers baby SUV

The Renault Kwid Concept (pictured) comes with its own flying drone There are concepts of new cars where you can clearly see they’re heading for production, and then there are concepts that look like the designers have been allowed to go berserk with little though to an eventual production car. The new Renault Kwid falls firmly in the latter. Said to be aimed at younger buyers in emerging markets – and designed with Renault’s designers in India – the Kwid Concept comes with a conventional 1.2 litre petrol engine and dual-clutch box – and can take the ZOE’s EV powertrain – but that’s seems to be where any connection with reality ends.

Abarth Fiat 500 Convertible confirmed. Punto Abarth coming?

It looks like plans for an Abarth version of the 500C for 2010 are confrmed But a successful model is always going to spawn whatever variants a car maker can viably muster, so our report in July that we will see an Abarth version of the 500C in Spring 2010 – probably at the Geneva Motor Show – now seem to have been confirmed as ‘jokeforblog’ has published pictures of what seems to be a road-ready Abarth Convertible at Abarth’s facility. Now that will be a bunch of fun – and just in time for next Summer. Spy shot of the Abarth 500 Cabriolet It also now seems likely that Fiat are pushing ahead with a new Abarth version of the Punto.

European Car of the Year shortlist announced

THE SEVEN CARS that will battle it out to become European Car of the Year (ECOTY) 2014 have been announced. Decided on by a jury of 53 motoring journalists from across Europe, the shortlists is made up of the BMW i3, Citroen C4 Picasso, Mazda 3, Mercedes S-Class, Peugeot 308, Skoda Octavia and Tesla Model S. This is the first time the ECOTY shortlist of contenders has included two electric vehicles with the BMW i3 and Tesla Model S.