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

Land Rover Defender Challenge by Bowler – the Defender goes rallying

The Land Rover Defender goes rallying (pictured) with Bowler modifications The venerable Land Rover Defender – now reaching the end of its shelf life – may not seem the perfect rally car. But a Defender tweaked and fettled with some Bowler Fairy Dust is another matter, and that’s exactly what’s happening with a new, one-make Defender Challenge by Bowler – and backed by Land Rover – which is aiming to put up to fifteen Defenders in to UK forest stage rallies and hill rallies in 2014. The Defender in question is a Defender 90 Hard Top with the usual 2.2 litre diesel, but sorted by Bowler to deliver 170bhp and 323lb/ft of torque (up from the regular 122bhp/266lb/ft) with a standard six-speed manual ‘box, MSA roll cage, fire extinguisher and Khumo tyres.

New Citroen DS3 Cabrio costs from £15,045

Citroen has revealed the new DS3 Cabrio will cost from £15,045 and come in three trim specs - DSign, DStyle & DSport. The Citroen DS3 is already one of our favourite cars, and Citroen has made sure the DS3 Cabrio still looks good with the roof up – and kept costs in check – by using a similar ‘landaulette’ style roof to the Fiat 500C, where the cabrio but is more like a long, canvas sunroof that site on the boot when open. The new DS3 Cabrio will come in Citroen’s main DS3 trim levels - DSign, DStyle & DSport – with the DS3 VTi 82 Cabrio DSign costing £15.045, the DStyle VTi 120 Cabrio £17,425 and the DSport THP 155 Cabrio £19,675.

VW Passat Alltrack (2012) first official pictures

The poor man's Audi A6 Allroad? The new Volkswagen Passat Alltrack follows a well-trod path to create a more rugged estate car with some of the accoutrements of an SUV. Set to be unveiled at the 2011 Tokyo motor show at the end of November, the new Passat in wellies will arrive in UK dealers in July 2012.