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

BMW ready to shift small coupes, convertibles to even-number nameplates

Reports in Europe say that BMW is planning a shake-up in the naming strategy for its smaller coupes and convertibles, as well as planning to shift its 1-series cars onto a front-drive platform. The nameplate shake-up will have coupe and convertible variants of the 1-series become the 2-series, while coupe and convertible variants of the 3-series will become the 4-series. The changeover is expected to start in 2013, according to a report on the Web site of Car magazine.

Tesla Model S UK Prices – starts at £54,900

Tesla Model S UK Prices – starts at £54,900 We’d always expected the appealing Tesla Model S EV to cost at least £60k for the entry-level model, so it’s a pleasant surprise that you’ll be able to grab the 60kWh model with its (up to) 240 mile range for £49,900 after the UK taxpayer has chipped in a £5,000 bribe to get you to drive an EV. Even the range-topping Model S Performance with its 310 mile range, 416bhp and a very rapid 0-62mph of 4.2 seconds will only cost £68,700 (after £5k rebate). That’s almost a bargain, especially if you get your model S courtesy of your business.

Volvo picks up Red Dot Design Award for new connectivity system

Volvo's Sensus Connected Touch connectivity system with the world's first voice-activated integrated Spotify connection has been awarded a 2013 Red Dot Design Award. The Sensus Connected Touch accessory turns the integrated 7-inch display into an infrared, beam-scanned touch screen that can be used even when wearing gloves. The system can be controlled using the touchscreen, the steering wheel or the center stack, while you can also voice-activate all music sources. Alain Visser, senior vice president of marketing, sales and customer service at Volvo, says, "The Red Dot Design Award confirms that this approach to an intuitive, human-centric user experience fulfils modern car owners' desire to remain constantly connected also when driving." The WiFi connection can be made using either a car-mounted 3G/4G-dongle or the driver's mobile phone, and the data is transferred by the WiFi between the phone and the Sensus Connected Touch.