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

New Ford Mondeo ECOnetic announced

Ford has introduced a 2.0 litre version of the Mondeo ECOnetic We wouldn’t for a minute expect Ford to take the slightest bit of notice of us, but they have announced the launch of a second Ford Mondeo ECOnetic toady – this time an even ‘Greener’ version – so they’re going in the right direction! The new Ford Mondeo ECOnetic sports a 2.0 litre, 115bhp diesel engine which achieves a remarkable 54.3mpg (and remember, the Mondeo weighs in at over 1500kg). It manages to slip in to the sub 140g/km CO2 bracket – making it VED (Band E- £120pa)  and company car tax friendly – and comes as either a saloon or estate.

BAC Mono wins Supercar Class at Cholmondeley

The BAC Mono has won the Supercar Class at the 2012 Cholmondeley Pageant of Power, just a year from the Mono’s launch and in its first competitive event. The cynical might have imagined that the debut of the BAC Mono as yet another racer for the road from a  company most have never heard of would be another two minute wonder – loads of promise and little reality. But as we said when the BAC Mono burst on the scene in March 2011, ‘This is the real deal; a superbly engineered and beautifully built single-seat racer that just happens to be road-legal’.

SEAT Altea XL

Two years after the Seat Altea hatchback was launched comes the extended XL version, which effectively becomes a mini-MPV thanks to a 187mm increase in length. This of course benefits the interior most, the trunk growing from 409 liters to 635 with the rear bench pushed forward - though is conspicuously without the extra row of seats offered by rivals. Outside, changes are most noticeable at the rear where the styling theme has been softened to reflect the car's renewed family-focus.