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

Fiat 500 Abarth (2008): first official pictures

By Tim Pollard First Official Pictures 20 February 2008 10:00 Watch out Mini, the Fiat 500 – CAR’s car of the year 2007 – is getting the high-performance treatment. The Abarth version unveiled today is pitched as a new interpretation of the Sixties road racer, but can they make a bigger, heavier hatch as exciting as that?The 500 Abarth 2008-style uses the Fiat group’s 16-valve 1.4-litre Fire engine breathing with the assistance of an IHI variable-geometry turbocharger to deliver a warm 135bhp at 5500rpm. So this car won’t challenge the upper echelons of hot-hatchdom that now have to pump out closer to 200bhp to be in contention.

Mercedes SLS AMG Gullwing – too tight for comfort?

Is the cabin in the new Mercedes SLS too tight for comfort? We weren’t hugely enamoured by the styling in the early camouflaged shots, but we came round enough when we saw the car in the flesh and accept it as more an homage to the 300SL than a pastiche. And despite some concerns that it won’t stack up against the SLR on the road, the news that Mercedes are working on an SLS AMG Black Series should address that concern – at a price.

Kia Niro Concept points to a Kia Nissan Juke rival

The Kia Niro Concept (pictured) debuts at Frankfurt as a pointer to a new compact SUV Earlier this month we had a teaser from Kia for a new compact urban SUV heading for a debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show, and here its is – the Kia Niro Concept. Kia has obviously been careful with its concept naming this time after the storm in a teacup response to the Kia Provo last year, with a name that shouts ‘Famous Actor’ rather than ‘Famous Terrorist’. Sensible move.