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

2009 Interior Motives Design Awards

Registration for the seventh annual Interior Motives Design Awards - themed ‘Sustainable and Clever' - is now open. Hosted by our quarterly interior design publication Interior Motives, the competition challenges design students around the world to come up with innovative designs that offer clever solutions to the problems facing 21st century vehicle design. Students are asked to create a design that fulfils one of the following four briefs: Chinese car 2.0 Create a next-generation vehicle designed specifically to serve the needs of young, design-aware Chinese consumers.

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.

Mercedes’ AMG division unveils new twin-turbo V8

Those obsessed with torque bemoaned Mercedes’ high-revving 6.2-litre V8 when it was launched in 2005, but just as the world has come to accept the naturally aspirated engine, the company has now unveiled a new twin-turbo 5.5-litre V8. Up to 563bhp – which is the same as the SLS AMG – and 663lb ft, which is much more than the 479lb ft the modern-day Gullwing supercar manages. The engine is an all-new 5.5-litre V8 (5461cc to be exact) with direct-injection technology, an aluminium crankcase and two turbochargers.