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

Unique pre-war Lagonda saloon headed for auction

AN ULTRA-RARE V12-engined Lagonda Hooper two-door saloon from 1939 is set to headline an auction of amazing old cars. The Lagonda V12 Hooper is technically unique in history, having been built specifically for the wife of the owner of Hooper Bodies Ltd., the most noted coachbuilder of the pre-war era. Now, 75 years after it was built, it needs a complete restoration but still looks set to receive bids topping at least £75,000.

Mercedes G-Class getting major technology overhaul and facelift

The Mercedes G-Class is getting a major overhaul – but not until 2017 The Mercedes G-wagon has been with us for 35 years, and despite its rather dated underpinnings and looks it sells well enough for Mercedes to keep on churning out the G-Class for those with ‘military’ wants – and the posers. But even the G-Class is not immune from the massive changes that have taken place in cars in recent years, so Mercedes is planning a major overhaul of the G-Wagon for 2017 – just after Land Rover arrive with a new Defender. The 2017 G-Class is going to be wider – by around 100mm – to make it more stable, allow a more sophisticated front suspension and make more room in the cabin.

MINI Countryman Cooper & Paceman Cooper get ALL4 4WD

The MINI Countryman Cooper (pictured) & Paceman Cooper get ALL4 4WD We always find it astonishing that car makers ‘ration’ the availability of four wheel drive platforms in their cars, usually citing a ‘lack of demand’. But that lack of demand is usually predicated on the lack of supply, and increasing the supply of 4WD cars would see more sold, especially after a series of harsh winters where many motorists struggled to keep their cars in a straight line. So the decision by BMW to extend the availability of their ALL4 4WD setup to a wider range of MINIs is welcome, with the petrol Countryman Cooper and Paceman Cooper now getting the ALL4 option too.