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

Cash for clunkers plan revives trade fight

Import brand automakers and dealers warned on Thursday that a vehicle scrappage proposal before the Senate would violate trade agreements and could weaken the economy. The Senate could vote on the plan on Thursday, which would offer $10,000 to any moderate- or low-income consumer who trades in a car or truck that is at least 10 years old and buys a new one that is more fuel-efficient and "assembled in the United States." The trade-ins would be scrapped rather than resold. The U.S.-made mandate "smacks of the protectionism that led to the Great Depression," said Barbara Nocera, the top Washington lobbyist for Mazda North American Operations.

Renault Kwid Concept is a bonkers baby SUV

The Renault Kwid Concept (pictured) comes with its own flying drone There are concepts of new cars where you can clearly see they’re heading for production, and then there are concepts that look like the designers have been allowed to go berserk with little though to an eventual production car. The new Renault Kwid falls firmly in the latter. Said to be aimed at younger buyers in emerging markets – and designed with Renault’s designers in India – the Kwid Concept comes with a conventional 1.2 litre petrol engine and dual-clutch box – and can take the ZOE’s EV powertrain – but that’s seems to be where any connection with reality ends.

Mercedes CL Grand Edition arrives

The Mercedes CL Grand Edition signals the end of the current CL range The 2012 Mercedes CL Grand Edition has been released with designo extras, AMG bits and new alloys. If we didn’t already know the current Mercedes S Class was coming to the end of its shelf life, the launch of the Mercedes S Class Grand Edition last summer confirmed it. And just to make sure we’re in no doubt, Mercedes has now launched a Grand Edition of the S Class Coupe with AMG extras, designo bits inside and out and new alloys, to finally consign the current S Class saloon and coupe to history – the Mercedes CL Grand Edition.