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

New car sales in UK still growing – up 14.8% April 2013. Driven by PPI Claims?

It is quite hard to fathom just how UK new car sales (well, registrations) continue to rise inexorably against a backdrop of otherwise stagnant economic activity, but they do. April 2013 has seen a total of 163,357 new car registrations, up a huge 14.8 per cent on April 2012 and the best figure since 2008, and these sales figures are not being driven by fleet buyers but by private motorists – private sector registrations grew by 32.3 per cent in April and are up by 15.2 per cent year to date. Not surprisingly, it’s the Superminis that are performing strongly – although all sectors are showing a rise – and it’s the Ford Fiesta that continues to be the best seller in the UK with sales of over 8,000 in April and over 42,000 so far in 2013, and the rise of superminis has also seen an increase in sales of petrol-engined cars thanks to the wave of small capacity, frugal petrol options.

Qoros set to unveil two concepts in Geneva

Qoros has announced it will showcase two concepts alongside its first production car, the GQ3 compact sedan, at this year's Geneva motor show. The Cross Hybrid Concept and Estate Concept preview future Qoros designs and technologies and are both based on the same platform as the GQ3. The two also feature the same signature design cues, developed under the direction of executive director of design, Gert Hildebrand.

Trident Iceni 6.6 litre diesel V8 at Salon Prive

Salon Prive 2012 will play host to the Trident Iceni Grand Tourer – a custom built 6.6 litre V8 diesel-powered supercar – next month. Diesel engines and high performance cars – however good diesel engines have now become – are not synonymous with supercars. But no one seems to have told Norfolk car makers Trident.