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

Mercedes B55 (2011) - a ballistic V8 B-class

Mercedes' tuning arm AMG has not yet ventured into sensible B-class territory, but a bunch of Merc trainees in Germany has come up with this: the B55. It's a V8-powered B-class, complete with AMG-spec 383bhp 5.5-litre V8 mounted up front and driving an old W210 E-class rear axle. Sounds like a promising skunkworks special, derived from an old B200 CDI hack that was kicking about the training centre.

BMW ActiveHybrid X6 – blink and you’ll have missed it

BMW ActiveHybrid X6 ends production On the face of it, adding hybrid gubbins to an expensive SUV should be a winner. Extra power and better economy – with the extra cost easily lost in an already expensive SUV – makes some sense. Or at least BMW thought so when the BMW AciveHybrid X6 was launched in 2009.

BMW i Genius could replace a car salesman – if it actually worked.

Text you i3 or i8 question to BMW i Genius and get a proper salesman’s reply The cars sales market is moving online more and more with many buyers using the interwebs for all their new car research, and a growing number actually buying cars directly from their devices. Now it seems that BMW are looking for a new way to sell their new range of electric cars – the BMW i3 and BMW i8 – which are about to hit the road and offer car buyers the first chance to jump in to a ‘Premium’ EV. So with a new market place potentially opening up, BMW has already appointed ‘i Geniuses’ at many of their UK dealerships to answer buyers’ question on the i3 and i8, and now they’re going a step further in a move that looks set to undermine, or even replace, BMW car salesmen (and women).