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

Tomorrow’s world: future petrol engine tech news

By Tim Pollard Motor Industry 28 September 2009 14:15 Petrol engines are changing dramatically. You’ll have heard of the phrase 'downsizing' and most major manufacturers are shrinking their regular gasoline engines to trim emissions and fuel consumption – while employing new tech to keep up the horsepower and torque outputs. This is the holy grail for engineers: maintain the power and performance of the existing big capacity engines we’ve become wedded to, but in a smaller, more economical package.

Seat opens new Global Design Center

Seat has opened its new Global Design Center, located within the Technical Center close to its manufacturing operations in Martorell, near Barcelona. A week of opening celebrations culminated with an event on Nov 8 for designers from the fields of architecture, fashion, industry, advertising, communication, art and photography, as well as specialised design media. More than 130 attendees were able to stroll around the Seat Design Center facilities in an informal and relaxed atmosphere.

Ken Block & Mini-Me – the Video

Ken Block & Rob Dyrdek Driving & Drifting The last report we did on Ken Block was after he delighted Top Gear’s James May with his antics in California, but now we have what can probably best be described as a comic teaser for what will be his next big video outing – Gymkhana 3.0. In this video – dubbed Gymkhana 2.1 – Ken Block gets a new sidekick – professional skateboarder Rob Dyrdek – who takes to a ‘Mini-Me’ kart version of Ken’s WRX Subaru in a playful drifting and playing game. The video is full of amusing comparisons, but just in case you don’t get it’s supposed to be funny we get treated to the Benny Hill theme tune – you know, the one where Benny gets chased in quick-time by a bunch of be-stockinged lovelies.