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

Half of all used cars go wrong ‘within a month’

With over seven million secondhand cars purchased in 2012, you’d expect one or two to develop a problem soon after purchase. But rather shockingly, as many as half of all used cars sold develop faults within a month of changing hands. That’s according to a report by the Citizens Advice Bureau, which helped with over 84,000 problems with secondhand motors in the past 12 months.

Toyota FT-86 Concept – say ‘hachi roku’

The Toyota FT-86 Concept will preview at Tokyo The FT-86 (hachi roku is Japanese for 86) is a small (13′ 8″ long) rear-wheel drive sports coupe which is going to turn up not just as a Toyota but also as a Subaru. It uses the 2.0 Boxer engine found in the Impreza, but by the time it finds its way to market in 2011 – as both a Toyota and a Subaru – it’s likely to get the next generation Boxer lump. The FT-86 is Toyota’s way of launching itself back in to the sports market – a market it once did well in with cars like the MR2 – and gain some credibility, and custom, from younger drivers.

Four artists let loose to customize Renault Twingo cabins [w/video]

Four examples of the revised version of Renault's Twingo have been given an artistic overhaul. Four artists created four very different visions, which went on display under the title ‘Cabinet of Curiosities' from December to January at L'Atelier Renault on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, Paris. Four artistic disciplines – fashion, food, music and design – were represented by French fashion designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, Italian chef Davide Scabin, former Girls Aloud member Nicola Roberts and German designer Nils Holger Moormann, respectively.