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

BMW X4 confirmed – one more time

It was always going to be on the cards after the unexpected success of the X6, but the birth of the BMW X4 – a coupé version of the new X3 – has been the subject of endless rumours, almost since the X6 started to sell in unexpected numbers. We reported as far back as April 2010 that BMW were close to deciding an X4 was a no brainer; after all, with a lot of the world ‘downsizing’ their transport, a smaller X6 should be a seller. By this time last year we heard that BMW had already made the decision and we had it on good authority that the X4 was confirmed and signed-off and would be heading to showrooms by 2013.

MINI compares Classic Mini to Porsche 911

The Classic Mini & Classic Porsche 911 A comparison between the classic Mini and the Porsche 911 may not be the most obvious, but that hasn’t stopped MINI jumping on the 911′s 50th anniversary year with a comparison between the two iconic cars. MINI assert that the similarities between the classic Mini and the 911 are based on their ‘Forever Young’ ethos (which is, in no small part, down to the fact both are still clearly similar to the original design)  and their performance. The Mini arrived before the 911 – Mini in 1959, 911 in 1963 – but both turned the car world on its head with a delightful turn of design, speed and appeal, with the original Mini ending up selling 5.3 million and the, still continuing, 911 starting to close in on a million sales.

Nissan LEAF World Car of the Year 2011

Nissan LEAF World Car of the Year Award - presented by a man in brown suede trainers Why do judges on COTY Award panels persist in considering a car like the Nissan LEAF for such awards? How can it be, when it does everything less well than an ICE car, that it even gets a look in? We can only assume that the judges on these panels are trying to polish their own green halos.