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

High-five for Mini's new, larger hatchback

THE LONG-RUMOURED five-door Mini hatchback has finally been unveiled, featuring an extra seat, more legroom and a larger boot than the three-door. By using a longer and wider body, the five-door is able to offer 72mm more legroom for rear passengers, who can also now access the new row of three seats via small but useful rear doors. Boot space is up to 278 litres, which although still comparatively low is 67 more than the three-door hatch can boast.

Endurance-drivers seminar highlights Amelia Island concours

If there were a Hall of Fame for endurance drivers, the nine gentlemen assembled on Saturday at the 17th-annual Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance would certainly be members. Event founder and chairman Bill Warner needed 25 minutes just to read off a portion of their lifetime racing accomplishments as he introduced them individually to a packed ballroom at the Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island, home of the event. Hurley Haywood, Vic Elford, Sam Posey, Joe Buzzetta, Gerard Larousse, Brian Redman, Jim Hall, David Hobbs and Derek Bell regaled the audience with tales of their amazing careers.

New Mercedes C-Class INTERIOR revealed

The more upmarket interior of the 23014 Mercedes C-Class We had the first video tease for the 2014 Mercedes C-Class over the weekend, which didn’t show us very much at all. But now we get the first official photos of the interior of the new C-Class, months before its due to debut at the Detroit Auto Show in January. With a need to put clean air between the new C-Class and the A-Class and its CLA derivative, Mercedes are planning to make the interioor of the enw C-Class more upmarket than previously, although it would seem there’s more than a passing family resemblance to the new CLA in the new C-Class’s cabin.