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

Man-made Modern Luxury Materials in Cars

Luxury, within the context of a car interior, has been closely related to the use of wood and leather for over a century. These natural materials have a familiar organic, tactile quality that are intrinsically desirable attributes for most people and, in today's mass manufactured plastic world, they also assume a luxury or premium quality. Throughout the last century, metal, leather and wood have also been progressively supplanted by bakelite, vinyl and then polymer-based plastic materials in car interiors as well.

Volvo confirms 395bhp four-cylinder for new 2015 XC90

By Tim Pollard First Official Pictures 08 July 2014 08:00 Volvo has confirmed engine details on the new 2015 XC90 - and it'll be crowned by the XC90 T8 plug-in hybrid, a 4x4 with 395bhp and around 60g/km of CO2. The Swedish seven-seat crossover hasn't been unveiled yet (expect full pictures in August 2014) and Volvo is busy building up the publicity machine with snapshots inside the new XC90 and now teasing us with engine details. The first photograph here is the XC concept car from the Detroit motor show 2014.

Remote areas may get fuel duty cut

REMOTE RURAL areas in Scotland, North Yorkshire and Devon could benefit from a 5p-per-litre fuel duty cut, under plans put forward by ministers. The Government has applied to the European Commission to vary the duty rates in 10 towns across Britain. Discounts have never been permitted on the mainland before, although they are already in place for the Scottish islands, Isles of Scilly and other island communities in Europe.