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

European car sales down 5.2%

EUROPEAN UNION car sales are still sagging despite the return of modest economic growth. For the first eight months of the year, passenger car sales were down 5.2% to 7.84 million compared with the same period last year, the European Auto Manufacturers' Association said - the lowest January-August figure since the group started keeping records in 1990. New car registrations in August fell five per cent from a year ago to 653,872.

New SEAT Leon ST Estate revealed

The New SEAT Leon ST Estate (pictured) has been revealed ahead of a Frankfurt debut As estate cars have become more stylish, more and more buyers have fallen in love with the idea of a ‘Wagon’ version as their family transport, as it now offers little downside and much more practicality. So it’s no wonder SEAT has decided to bite the bullet and launch an Estate version of the Leon – the Leon ST – as the third model in the Leon line-up. The ST estate shares its wheelbase with the five-door Leon but gets a small – and reasonably stylish – shed bolted on the back to offer 587 litres of space with the seats down and a reasonably commodious 1470 litres with the seats down.

Jaguar XF Black Pack revealed

The Jaguar XF Black Pack can be added to the XFR and XF Diesel S The Jaguar XF has been a huge success for Jaguar, selling more recently in the UK than the comparable BMWs and Mercedes. And justifiably so, it’s a very good car. And not just as the Jaguar XFR either (which tends to be our default setting – the most powerful V8 you can squeeze under the bonnet) which offers more aggresive looks and enormous power, but in more lowly models too.