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

VW Polo R WRC Street Limited Edition – but not for the UK

Volkswagen has revealed a production version of its Polo WRC car – the VW Polo R WRC Street – as a limited run, but not for the UK. Volkswagen has revealed a limited run VW Polo R WRC Street to coincide with their foray in to WRC with the Polo, and it goes on sale this month – but not for the UK. The LHD only Polo R WRC Street gets the 4WD platform Audi has developed for the A1 together with a 2.0 litre TSI producing 220bhp, delivered to all four wheels through a six-speed manual ‘box, enough to scoot the Polo R WRC to 62mph in 6.4 seconds – quicker than the Golf GTi.

Peter Stevens and Julian Thomson lead a discussion on the past, present and future of car design

As part of its sponsorship of London's Clerkenwell Design Week, Jaguar and the Royal College of Art brought together three generations of the design school to discuss the past, present and possible future of car design. Held in a suitably grimy warehouse in east London – with the sculpture by RCA students Ewan Gallimore and Claire Mille's we showed you earlier this week sat outside – Professor Dale Harrow, dean of the School of Design and head of its Vehicle Design program introduced Professor Peter Stevens, Julian Thomson, Jaguar's advanced design director and Alexandra Palmowski project designer advanced colour and material at Jaguar took the audience through their careers. Charismatic as ever, Peter Stevens kicked off proceedings that moved chronologically through the decades by explaining how he first became interested in "the art if car design, allied to the science of how they work" through his artistic parents and uncle – journalist and motoring adventurer – Denis Jenkinson during the 1950s and 60s.

Ford B-Max (2012) goes into the great wide open

Ford hopes a less-is-more approach will lure punters to its new B-max MPV, unique in the supermini segment for having a big hole in the central cockpit instead of a structural pillar. The result is a flexible people mover that's a doddle to load with kids or cargo, Ford claims, thanks to its pillarless opening and sliding rear door. The novel doors landed the £12,500 people mover in the same must-see company as Bentley's grotesque SUV concept and Ferrari's beautiful F12.