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

VW to intro Passat BlueMotion Concept at Detroit auto show

While performance heads are anxiously awaiting the North American debut of the hot-heat Mk VII Golf R at the Detroit auto show, Volkswagen's Passat BlueMotion Concept offers never-before technology in the Yank/Canuck family sedan segment: a four-pot motor with cylinder deactivation. Based on the EA211 1.4L turbo motor we sampled last year in the Euro-market Audi A3 sedan, the Passat BlueMotion Concept's engine is capable of shutting down the middle two cylinders during cruise, and features the Jetta Hybrid's gearbox, a twin-clutch unit capable of decoupling from the engine during off-throttle coasting. In the Passat's application, the 1.4 puts out 150 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque; VW suggests its highway fuel economy will stand at 42 mpg.

Lexus RC F & RC F Carbon price and specs – costs from £59,995

The Lexus RC F (pictured) costs from £59,995 The Lexus RC F Coupe arrived earlier this year at the Detroit Motor Show and now, following the end of IS F production to make way for it, the RC F is going on sale in the UK, with prices starting at £59,995. Whether the RC F offers enough to prove a challenge to the BMW M4 remains to be seen, but on paper it all looks very promising – and good-looking. In the UK, the RC F will come in two guises – RC F and RC F Carbon – with both models getting the same 5.0 litre V8 with ‘more than’ 450bhp and 383lb/ft of torque driven to the back wheels through an eight-speed Sports Direct Shift gearbox.

Mercedes GLA Edition 1: More details & photos

The new Mercedes GLA Edition 1 (pictured) kicks off sales of the new GLA Mercedes has discovered that a launch edition of a new car – with special paintwork and lots opf extras – is a good way to kick off sales so, with the new GLA due to go on sale in November, we get more details on the new Mercedes GLA Edition 1. We reported the GLA Edition 1 would kick off sales of the new GLA range last month, but now Mercedes has sorted out the specs, even if we don’t have a UK price yet (although the ‘Edition 1′ can be had on all the non AMG versions in Germany for an extra €6300). Based on the GLA Urban Line, the Edition 1 comes with faux chrome roof rails and skid guards, bi-xenons, 19″ AMG alloys, black louvres with chrome inserts on the grill, black mirrors and waistline trim and privacy glass and will come with a choice of cirrus white, orient brown metallic, mountain grey metallic and designo magno mountain grey paintwork with ‘Edition 1′ lettering on the wings.