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

Ken Block & Mini-Me – the Video

Ken Block & Rob Dyrdek Driving & Drifting The last report we did on Ken Block was after he delighted Top Gear’s James May with his antics in California, but now we have what can probably best be described as a comic teaser for what will be his next big video outing – Gymkhana 3.0. In this video – dubbed Gymkhana 2.1 – Ken Block gets a new sidekick – professional skateboarder Rob Dyrdek – who takes to a ‘Mini-Me’ kart version of Ken’s WRX Subaru in a playful drifting and playing game. The video is full of amusing comparisons, but just in case you don’t get it’s supposed to be funny we get treated to the Benny Hill theme tune – you know, the one where Benny gets chased in quick-time by a bunch of be-stockinged lovelies.

VW Taigun Compact SUV heading for production

It was a good-looking and appealing effort from VW to tap in to the very compact SUV market, with a real family look (a Tiguan on a boil wash), peppy little 3-cylinder 1.0 litre engine delivering 108bhp and a 0-62mph of 9.2 seconds (with 60mpg economy) and enough room to carry stuff and people thanks to an extra 50mm in the wheelbase compared to the Up! Now it looks like the Taigun is heading for production after VW’s Chief designer, Klaus Bishoff, told Autoexpress that he deeply believed the Taigun would be heading for VW showrooms very soon, and could be sold in the UK and Europe as well as in emerging markets. So you can add the Taigun to the list of VW’s SUV offerings, and with new versions of the Tiguan and Touareg (perhaps based on the CrossBlue Concept) and a Polo based SUV on the way too, it looks like VW are covering all the bases.

Renault turn central London in to a full-size Scalextric for the Zoe EV (video)

The Renault Zoe Scalextric cars turn on to the Embankment Even those who have never driven an electric car probably have if we count childhood exploits with Scalextric; hand-grip controllers clenched in hand seeing how fast you can go before your car tips off in a bend. So Renault decided it would be a good idea to create a full-size Scalextric track in central London, modify a pair of Renault Zoe EVs to slot in to the newly fabricated track and blat the cars round the 1.9 mile track in London controlled by competition winners from a helicopter hovering overhead. The race sees the two Zoes go head-to-head on the Scalextric track, starting out on the South Bank by the London Eye, over Westminster Bridge, past the Houses of Parliament, down the Embankment, up The Strand, over Waterloo Bridge, round the IMAX and finishing alongside the Thames at the finish line.