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

Fiat Americanizes its 500, complete with cupholders

The Fiat 500 subcompact might be Italian through and through, but the U.S. version that arrives in dealerships late this year will cater to American tastes. The American car will have a more powerful engine than the European version, a slightly softer ride and--most important--more substantial, American-style cupholders.

New VW Golf MK 7 goes on sale

The 2013 Volkswagen Golf – the Golf Mk 7 – is now on sale in the UK just weeks after its official debut at the 2012 Paris Motor Show. Volkswagen has put the new Golf – the MK 7 version of the best-selling Golf – on sale in the UK already, with first customer cars due to arrive in January 2013 – although the range is still limited. On offer to order now in the UK is the Golf S, Golf SE and Golf GT, but if you want the new Golf GTI – or a BlueMotion of 4Motion Golf  Mk 7 – you’re going to have to wait until well in to 2013 to be able to place your order.

New Nissan X-Trail starts at £22,995. But it’s FWD

The new Nissan X-Trail (pictured) falls in price The styling of the new Nissan X-Trail, which arrived last year at Frankfurt, has eschewed a lot of the boxiness of the old X-Trail and taken on many of the styling cues from the new Nissan Qashqai. And in the process it’s perhaps become ‘softer’. The old X-Trail was more rugged than most modern compact SUVs, but the new X-Trail has arrived with a choice of Front Wheel Drive versions – no doubt aimed at keeping the price down – as well as cuddlier looks.