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

High-five for Mini's new, larger hatchback

THE LONG-RUMOURED five-door Mini hatchback has finally been unveiled, featuring an extra seat, more legroom and a larger boot than the three-door. By using a longer and wider body, the five-door is able to offer 72mm more legroom for rear passengers, who can also now access the new row of three seats via small but useful rear doors. Boot space is up to 278 litres, which although still comparatively low is 67 more than the three-door hatch can boast.

2013 UK automotive sales highest since 2007

By Damion Smy Motor Industry 07 January 2014 10:48 The UK car market is showing further buoyancy with 2,264,737 sales in 2013, up from 2,044,069 in 2012. The 10.8% increase makes the UK the best performing market in Europe, exceeding its forecast by posting its highest sales figures since 2007. Top of the charts once again is the Ford Fiesta, which sold almost 13,000 additional units than in 2012, with its stablemate, the Ford Focus, graduating to the runner-up spot to push the Vauxhall Corsa third.

Porsche 918 Spyder hits the Nurburgring (video)

The Porsche 918 Spyder – Porsche’s hybrid replacement for the Carrera GT – has been caught on video at the Nurburgring. Incredibly, it’s more that two years since Porsche took the wraps of the 918 Spyder at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, yet we’re still more than a year away from actually seeing production cars. But Porsche are putting their time to good use. Porsche has made a few cosmetic tweaks already from the original 918 Concept, but they’ve also let it be known that the 918 Spyder will get a 550bhp 4.6 litre V8 to go with its electric motors on the front wheels  (one less motor than originally envisaged – there was going to be one one the back axle too), which will make the 918 Spyder a FWD Porsche when in EV mode.