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

Hartmut Warkuss to receive 2014 EyesOn Design Catalyst Award

Hartmut Warkuss, former head of Volkswagen Design, will be awarded the 2014 Catalyst Award by EyesOn Design at next week's North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). Warkuss, who is credited with overseeing the design of the Bugatti Veyron, the VW Concept (new Beetle) and the Audi TT Concept, will be presented with the award by Peter Schreyer, Hyundai's president and chief design officer and the 2014 recipient of the EyesOn Design Lifetime Design Achievement Award. Schreyer, who met Warkuss when he was an intern at Audi in 1978, says, "He was chief designer at that time...

Citroen Cactus concept car (2013): the first bubble-wrap, bump-free car

French car firm Citroen has enjoyed some success with its range of upmarket DS models – but now it’s turning its attention to the bread-and-butter C-line cars. And the new 2013 Citroen Cactus concept car is the first look at what’s in store for the mainstream Citroen car range. The Citroen Cactus immediately stands out from the crowd of same-again European crossovers because of its novel Airbump system: think of protective bubble-wrap on the doors and bumpers to protect them from scrapes and dings in car parks and you’re not far from the truth.

Lexus CT 200h: The emissions

Teh Lexus CT 200h has emissions of just 96g/km We have to go with the flow on this because, although we have no faith in the assertion that man is responsible for climate change, for as long as Governments penalise and promote cars based on the emissions of CO2 from their tailpipe (I know, it’s barking) we have to accept that car makers will respond to that stick and carrot. Which is why we see a raft of car makers churning out ‘Eco’ cars with a 99g/km emissions figure, as sub-100g/km of CO2 emissions is the Holy Grail for maximising tax effiecencies. Of course, Lexus has gone a step further and seem intent on producing only hybrid cars as soon as possible.