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

Mugen to sell tuning parts through UK Honda dealers

Remember last year’s hardcore and ludicrously expensive Mugen Civic Type R? Tuned by the European arm of the Japanese motorsport firm, the tricked-up Civic featured hotter cams, a new exhaust revised suspension and a unique body kit – but a £39k price meant only a few were sold. The good news is that you’ll soon be able to cherry pick some of those parts for your own Civic and even the CR-Z hybrid because Mugen has struck an agreement to distribute tuning parts through eight Honda dealers in the UK.

Seat Ibiza Cupra (2013) production car shown

Seat has shown the production version of the new Ibiza Cupra - six months after showing the concept at the 2012 Beijing motor show. And, as predicted, very little has changed for 2013's new Ibiza hot hatch. It's powered by VW's 1.4 TSI engine, complete with twin-charging by super- and turbocharger.

Peugeot 208 Hybrid FE (2013) at Frankfurt motor show

Here’s Peugeot’s salvo in the fight to make cars more economical: the 208 Hybrid FE. The supermini concept can achieve a claimed average of 112mpg (and a maximum of 141mpg), and emits only 49g/km of CO2. Peugeot is especially keen to point out it’s a conventionally shaped supermini with five seats, unlike VW’s own super-frugal XL1, which looks decidedly sci-fi in comparison, but has a smaller boot than a Ferrari 458… The 208 FE is 25% slipperier and 20% lighter than a regular 208, but that’s only part of the reason it allegedly achieves such eye-opening numbers at the pumps.