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

Renault designers on their interpretation of luxury [w/Video]

Renault's design chief Laurens van den Acker and his design team have stressed how the Initiale Paris concept previews how Renault design's tactics will help steer clear of its rivals within the premium segment.  The concept – the sixth to be developed in the design strategy inspired by the cycle of life, now in the Wisdom stage – heralds Renault's return to the high-end market after a number of years. It was, therefore, important that the design be a positive rejection of traditional ideas of luxury, design director of concept cars Axel Breun believes. Designer Choung Sun Oh goes to great pains to stress how the design team worked towards developing a highly original design to set them apart from rivaling brands upon re-entry.

BMW 1- and 3-series coupes to become 2- and 4-series

BMW is shaking up its badging strategy and will turn the next-gen 1-series and 3-series sporting derivatives into the 2-series and 4-series. Two-door Ones and Threes - the coupes and convertibles - will in future be rebadged as the BMW 2-series and BMW 4-series. Why exactly are they rebadging BMWs as 2-series and 4-series?

Durheimer succeeds Paefgen at Bentley, Bugatti

Porsche R&D chief Wolfgang Durheimer has been named the new head of Bentley and Bugatti to replace Franz-Josef Paefgen, who is retiring. Durheimer, 52, also becomes head of motorsports for the Volkswagen Group, beginning in February. Paefgen, 64, has lead Bentley since 2002 and Bugatti since 2007.