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

MINI Rocketman returns for London 2012

The MINI Rocketman Concept – first seen at Geneva 2012 – has been titivated and rolled out to promote BMW’s London 2012 sponsorship. We all thought, when BMW rolled out the MINI Rocketman Concept at the Geneva Motor Show in 2011, that this was the future for a second, smaller take on the modern MINI. But BMW seemed to go cold on the idea of building a modern MINI with dimensions much closer to the original Issigonis Mini so we thought the plans had gone out of the window.

Car hire costs branded ‘extortionate’

MORE THAN 45% of hire car users described hidden costs such as insurance and fuel as extortionate, according to a new survey. 200 UK consumers aged over 30 and earning more than £20,000 per annum were quizzed for the survey, conducted on behalf of Carhiremarket.com, with over 45% agreeing that hidden costs for insurance and fuel were extortionate. Users cited greater transparency or an all-inclusive upfront price as a more desirable option.

Renault Captur Signature is a Captur with all the bells and whistles

Renault Captur Signature is a Captur with all the bells and whistles It’s more than a year since the Renault Captur compact SUV arrived in the UK to tap in to the urban compact SUV market, and with prices starting from £12,495 it offers the high-riding, butch-looking style so many buyers are looking for. But it’s the specced-up models that help car makers’ bottom-lines the most, so we now get the Renault Captur Signature trim to top out the range and throw most of the Captur’s bells and whistles in to the mix as standard. That means an exterior makeover with 17″ alloys, two-tone paint and plenty of chrome and an interior that gets part leather trim, splashes of red detailing, Signature sill plates and mats.