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

Alfa Romeo SUV heading for Alfa showrooms – one day

We’ve heard it all before – and from some well placed people at Alfa Romeo – but an Alfa man has now stuck his neck out and confirmed publicly: There will be an Alfa Romeo SUV in the next two to three years. Damien Dally, who is Alfa’s Brand man in the UK, was speaking at the Telegraph Festival of Motoring this week and was quite happy to confirm the arrival of Alfa’s SUV although, just like all Alfa’s plans, it seems to be a few years behind what they were planning. Back in 2011 – two years after Alfa revealed it planned an assault on the US market, Alfa’s plan was to have an Alfa SUV ready by 2013 to spearhead their return to the US market.

Merc to revive straight six, plus 4cyl and smaller V8s

Mercedes has just signed off a new engine family which will see most full-sized Mercs in future run four-cylinders, downsized V8s and… straight sixes. A friendly Mercedes engineer recently met CAR to disclose the engine plans for future models, including the surprise disclosure that Merc plans to switch to straight sixes, like its rivals over in Munich.  It's fair to say I almost choked on my breakfast croissant when I found out the details of the next MB engine generation which has just been signed off for release in 2015. Mercedes' future four-cylinder engines Again, there will be a family of new low-cost fours, and the big-bore V8s will be replaced by a series of downsized turbocharged 4.0-litre units.

Subaru's new supermini

By Tim Pollard Motor Industry 05 January 2007 02:52 Subaru is preparing a rebadged Daihatsu Sirion to slot beneath the Impreza in its range - and the new 'mini could be on sale as early as the end of this year. Toyota, Daihatsu's parent company, bought a 9% shareholding in Subaru's parent company in 2005. So the Daihatsu Sirion 1.0 is an obvious donor car; its £7500 starting price and 57mpg stretch the Subaru range down to a whole new budget marketplace.