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

Best Western Hotels rolling out EV charging points in the UK

We’re electric car sceptics – or at least sceptical about their ability to replace the ICE car as our principal form of personal transport – although EVs do have their place as runarounds in urban areas, where their limited range isn’t really a factor. But taking your EV off for a weekend jaunt does pose logistical problems when the average range is probably no more than 80 miles, and something worth making the effort for a weekend away is almost always going to be further away than that. But a bit of smart marketing by Best Western Hotels – a group of 270 or so independently run hotels round the UK – means EV drivers will soon be able to plot their weekend away on the basis of Best Western Hotels en route, with Best Western planning on fitting EV charging points in their car parks, with half their hotels having free charging points by September.

Skoda Superb facelift (2013) first official pictures

This is the new 2013 Skoda Superb, which sports completely redesigned front and rear bodywork, and more frugal powertrains than the outgoing car. What's new under the bonnet of the 2013 Skoda Superb? Stop-start tech and a kinetic energy recovery system (which takes the strain off the engine's alternator by using braking to charge up a capacitor) cuts fuel consumption by up to 19% versus the old Superb. It's all fitted as standard on the diesel engines, and the entry-level 1.4 TSI petrol.

Toyota reveals Qashqai rival teaser

THE CROSSOVER bubble seems to be far from bursting, with Toyota revealing a sneak preview of the car it hopes can challenge the Nissan Qashqai. The C-HR concept will be revealed fully for the first time at the Paris Motor Show at the beginning of October. It is said to be fitted with a hybrid drivetrain and is likely to be based on the same chassis that underpins the Lexus NX compact SUV that has recently been launched to global media.