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

2013 Volkswagen Passat R-Line & new 1.4 TSI arrive

The Volkswagen range is hugely successful and largely appealing, but it’s not always the most dynamic looking range of cars on offer. Which is why the R-Line option of fairly understated sporty add-ons is so popular and why VW is offering it on more and more of its range. Now we get the VW Passat R-Line treatment (just as we did with the old Passat) with a bespoke body kit offering more butch bumpers front and back – and cornering fogs in the front bumper – side skirts, 18″ Kansas alloys, spoiler at the back, lowered suspension, extra chrome, Bi-xenon headlights with LED running lights and privacy glass to give the Passat a much more appealing look.

Nissan moves Europe design chief to U.S., Campbell to retire

Bruce Campbell, Nissan's U.S. design chief, will retire at the end of March after 31 years with the automaker and will be replaced by Alfonso Albaisa, who currently is Nissan's European design chief. This will be the second tour of duty in the United States for Albaisa.

MINI Cooper S & MINI JCW UK Recall

MINI JCW & Cooper S recalled Following on from the US MINI Recall, MINI UK is to recall 29,000 MINI Cooper S and MINI JCW models to fix a faulty circuit board. Yesterday we reported that MINI in the US is to recall 89,000 MINI Coopers to fix a faulty circuit board on the turbo’s auxiliary water pump, and we now learn the recall will be worldwide – although is DOESN’T include the MINI Cooper. It seems the US authorities got it all in a bit of a muddle and included the MINI Cooper in the recall announcement, even though it doesn’t have a turbo and the recall relates to a potentially faulty circuit board on the auxiliary water pumps that cool the turbos.