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

Suzuki CrossHiker, X-Lander & Hustler Concepts for Tokyo Motor Show

It’s the Tokyo Motor Show next month, and that’s a big deal for Japanese car makers, eager to make a statement at their home motor show, and Suzuki are quick out of the gate with three new concepts for the show. The Suzuki Crosshiker is a three-door crossover that comes complete with a big panoramic roof, weighs just a bit over 800kg, is about the size of a compact car – but higher riding, and is powered by a new, frugal three-cylinder engine. Concept number two is the Suzuki X-Lander which get built on the underpinnings of the Jimny and gets four wheel drive with power coming from a 1.3 litre petrol engine mated to an electric motor.

Honda Vezel crossover arrives at the Tokyo motor show

For the record, Vezel rhymes with "bezel," and it's the name of Honda's long suspected Fit-based crossover. Honda showed off the new Vezel hybrid model at the Tokyo motor show, though the production model set to launch in Japan in December will also be available with a straight-gasoline 1.5-liter direct-injected engine also. Other details are still slim, but the company did claim a "Sport Hybrid i-DCD" powertrain will get a stronger engine and most likely a dual-clutch transmission with integrated electric motor.

Mercedes B55 (2011) - a ballistic V8 B-class

Mercedes' tuning arm AMG has not yet ventured into sensible B-class territory, but a bunch of Merc trainees in Germany has come up with this: the B55. It's a V8-powered B-class, complete with AMG-spec 383bhp 5.5-litre V8 mounted up front and driving an old W210 E-class rear axle. Sounds like a promising skunkworks special, derived from an old B200 CDI hack that was kicking about the training centre.