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

Report backs Scottish pay-as-you-drive

SCRAPPING FUEL DUTY and car tax in Scotland and replacing them with a pay-as-you-drive system has been suggested by an independent think tank. The scheme would help reduce emissions, cut congestion and increase fairness, Reform Scotland said. The organisation has produced a report on the idea, calling for the Scottish Government to launch a feasibility study on a national and local scheme in which central government would "price" motorways and trunk roads and local authorities would "price" local roads.

Interior Motives launches 2011 Design Awards

Registration for the ninth Interior Motives Student Design Awards has now opened. This is your chance to take part in one of the most important events on the design calendar, and to display your talent and fresh thinking to the world's top vehicle designers and automotive press. The theme of this year's competition is 'Back to Basics - Making Cars for People, Not Markets' and has been devised in collaboration with Volkswagen and Peugeot.

Mercedes GLA SUV UK launch down a salt mine in Cheshire

The new Mercedes GLA down a salt mine in Cheshire Trying to find an unusual venue for new car launches is something that taxes the brains of car PR teams, and Mercedes came up with somewhere a little left field for the launch of the new GLA Compact SUV – the UK’s biggest salt mine at Winsford in Cheshire. The Winsford Rock Salt Mines – 130 miles of salt mining tunnels running under Cheshire – are the result of salt mining since the 19th century and now comprise of 130 miles of tunnels some 189 metres below ground, a void beneath the earth of 23 million cubic metres. Still a working salt mine, Winsford is also home to a massive storage facility for, among others, the National Archive, where constant temperatures of 14C make for an ideal storage environment.