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

First BMW i8 for US to be auctioned at Pebble Beach

The Frozen Grey BMW i8 for Pebble Beach The other end of the scale from BMW’s i3 City Car is the BMW i8 Supercar and, despite its modest 1.5 litre range-extender engine for its electric propulsion it seems to offer proper borderline supercar performance. With just an estimated 500 BMW i8s heading for the US this year, BMW has decided it would be a bit of a wheeze to produce a one-off i8 for the US market to plonk in Gooding and Co’s auction at Pebble Beach in August to give one lucky American buyer the chance to jump the queue for the i8 and inject some funds in to Pebble. So they’ve created a special i8 for Pebble which comes with a Frozen Grey Metallic paint job and a titivated interior with Dalbergia Brown Leather upholstery that’s been dyed using plant extracts – all very ‘Green’ – with BMW i Blue for the stitching and highlights.

Digital repreive for drivers as FM switch-off postponed

MILLIONS OF CAR OWNERS have been saved from missing out on listening to the radio in their cars as the Government has delayed switching off FM transmitters in favour of digital radio. The move comes as the Government admits that more needs to be done to convince radio users to switch to DAB digital radio instead of sticking with FM. Ed Vaizey, the communications minister, said: ‘We have to support digital radio, but we also respect people’s passion for radio and not being made to do something they don’t want to.’ At present, digital radio accounts for about a third (36.5%) of all radio listening, but take up has been lower among car drivers who are used to FM.

De Tomaso SLC: De Tomaso back with SUV Concept

De Tomaso SLC SUV Concept We’ve covered some of the trials and tribulations of De Tomaso in the last couple of years, with the assets of the once-successful maker of Italian-style cars with a New World heart languished rusting and unwanted in Italy. But there were no takers; no one willing to breath life back in to a once successful marque. But finally – in November 2009 – a white knight in the form of octegenarian and former Fiat Exec Gian Mario Rossignolo rode in to the fray, and plucked De Tomaso from the oblivion of the history books.