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

Win a signed Peter Schreyer Kia design sketch

At this week's launch of the new Kia Sportage, CAR witnessed Kia design chief Peter Schreyer sketch out his original vision of the new crossover 4x4. We later clobbered the black-polo-necked styling boss and asked if we could give it away on CAR Online. He agreed, added some finishing touches and signed the Kia Sportage design sketch.

Ireland preparing to ban smoking in cars

Ireland prepare to ban smoking in cars Maybe the erosion of individual liberties should be secondary to safety (although we would argue the contrary), but surely banning smoking in cars – as Ireland appear close to doing – is a very silly route to go? Of course, since anything that can be remotely construed as a company car is already somewhere you’re not allowed to smoke, banning smoking in private cars is, perhaps, a logical step. The argument is that smoking in cars is detrimental to the health of children who are passengers.

Renault Eolab Concept

Renault has bucked the trend of rather uninspiring Paris Motor Show previews with the Eolab. This B-segment-sized car that has been designed to a brief that states it must return fuel economy of 2l/100km (118mpg US/141mpg UK), and that all of its major technical innovations must be production-feasible by the year 2020. The Eolab is actually two cars – the Eolab prototype, which the engineering team has signed off as capable of 1l/100km (235mpg US/282mpg UK), and the Eolab Concept, which was overseen by the design team.