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

Top Gear Tonight: Burma Road Trip – yes, it’s Top Gear Christmas in March

Wet in Burma in part 1 of the Top Gear Christmas Special Top Gear tonight – episode 6 of series 21 – isn’t actually part of the regular series twenty one (that was done and dusted with last week’s Porsche 918 Spyder episode) but is the first part of a two part Christmas Special Road Trip. Yes, March is a bit late for a Christmas Special, but it’s becoming the Top Gear norm. What isn’t normal is the fact that there are no cars for Messrs Clarkson, Hammond and May to drive, instead they’re all in beaten up trucks bought sight unseen from the internet for a road trip across Burma to the River Kwai.

Interior Motives China Conference 2010: Day 1

Despite Europe being grounded due to volcanic ash, the third Interior Motives China conference got underway in Beijing with a record number of delegates and speakers – proof, as if it were needed, that this event is now one of the most important in the global car design calendar. This year's theme was 'New brands and the search for a design identity', and among the audience were young Chinese designers keen to learn more about international car design techniques, as well as veteran western designers hoping to gain a deeper understanding of the market they are creating vehicles for.  Session 1: The Market for Design Edward Wong, Director of Transportation Design at China Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA), set the mood for the conference in his long, flowing 'Chang San' robe (very traditional Chinese attire). He opened the conference and invited panellists to share their views on what China's needs are and explore what makes the market so unique.

Nissan to open new studio in Beijing

After last week's announcement of leadership changes at Nissan's North American and European design centers, Nissan Investment Co., Ltd (NCIC), a Nissan subsidiary in China, today revealed plans to expand its global design resources with the establishment of a new design studio in Beijing. "With the addition of 20 designers, Nissan's new studio will enhance our design capabilities, as well as our product competitiveness in China and Asia where the automotive industry continues to see robust growth," said Shiro Nakamura, chief creative officer and senior vice president of design and brand. "Locating the studio where our customers live and work allows us to best respond to their needs and design vehicles that exceed their expectations." Scheduled to open early in 2011, the studio in the Chao Yang district of Beijing will be the first design facility in China established by a Japanese automaker.