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

Europe's Car of the Year 2011 shortlist announced

The 41 contenders for Europe's 2011 Car of the Year trophy have been whittled down to the final seven as the European CoTY shortlist is announced today. The winner will be voted for by 59 of Europe's most influential motoring journalists, including two CAR writers: editor Phil McNamara and European editor Georg Kacher. The 2010 winner - by just 10 points ahead of the Toyota iQ - was the Volkswagen Polo. Like the Eurovision Song Contest, Car of the Year has proved controversial in the past with accusations of block-voting and blind patriotism, yet the award remains one of the most prestigious in the motor industry.

BUMPER CHOICE FOR USED CAR BUYERS

USED CAR BUYERS looking for a bargain might be pleased to hear that leading vehicle auction specialist British Car Auctions will be holding a super sale this Saturday April 9. The sale at BCA Belle Vue Manchester will have over 400 vehicles from Lex Autoloease and Black Horse Motor Finance including over 200 convertibles. “There’s no question that motorists are feeling the pinch at the moment so finding the best deal on their next used vehicle is vital,” said Tony Gannon BCA Communications Director.

First factory-built wheelchair-accessible vehicle hits the market

Before Wednesday, the only wheelchair-accessible vehicles available to the public were aftermarket conversions that generally came with structural modifications and a price tag ranging from $50,000 to $80,000. Now, a startup company called the Vehicle Production Group (VPG) has released the first vehicle specifically assembled to accommodate people in wheelchairs, with an MSRP of $39,950. The vehicle is called the MV-1, which stands for Mobility Vehicle 1, and it was built for the disabled community.