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

Volkswagen Passat TDI covers 1,626 miles on a single tank of fuel

John and Helen Taylor recently drove a 2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI carefully enough to return an unbelievable 84.1 mpg on trip from Houston, Texas, to Sterling, Va. That's 1,626.1 miles on one tank of low-sulfur diesel. That's almost 100 miles better than the old world record.

Armor-plated SUV among extravagant debuts at Top Marques Monaco show

While AutoWeek editors were pounding the pavement at the New York auto show last week, the world's silly rich were nodding polite approval at the Top Marques Monaco show. Included in the debuts were Gemballa, Fisker, Keating, Tirrito and Conquest, the latter of which showed off a ridiculously large, armor-plated SUV called the Knight XV that reportedly took organizers three hours just to maneuver it through the hall doors. Lest we forget that we're all human, Top Marques Monaco also had its “Black Friday at Wal-Mart” moments: According to organizers, Gemballa's world premiere of the Tornado was cut short after it was purchased “within 16 seconds of the show doors opening by a sheikh eager to have a piece of the action.” Full wrap-up release from Top Marques Monaco below.

MINI John Cooper Works Countryman: The mad MINI marketing begins +video

MINI John Cooper Works Countryman with a man on the roof - Expect the Unexpected With the debut of the MINI John Cooper Works Countryman at Geneva 2012, MINI starts its marketing with another off-beat video. If there’s one things that’s a certainty in the world of MINI – apart from a new variant every four days – is that any new launch gets promoted with slightly bizarre videos. And the new MINI JCW Countryman is no exception.