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

U.S. sales of quirky 5-series GT disappoint BMW

BMW's 5-series Gran Turismo was meant to be a stylish alternative to minivans and crossovers when it debuted in November 2009. But sales of the tall, quirky five-door have been disappointing. Now, BMW of North America CEO Jim O'Donnell says he wishes the company hadn't stopped selling the 5-series wagon in the United States last year.

Mercedes accidentally publishes the first 2014 Mercedes S-Class photo

The image has since been removed, but not before it escaped in to the wild to give us our first official view of the new S Class, a car which has always set new standards in equipment and safety with each new launch, and the 2014 S Class will be no different. What will be different is the range of models we expect to arrive in the next few years, from standard and long wheelbase S Class through an S Class Coupe, S Class Convertible and a super-luxury S Class Pullman, which will effectively replace Mercedes’ failed Maybach adventure. The new S Class looks less bulbous than its current incarnation, with the bulging rear wheel arches gone and a slimmer look all round.

Mazda wins 2008 LA Design Challenge

The Mazda Kaan concept has won the fifth annual LA Design Challenge competition, part of the Design Los Angeles automobile designer's conference. The award was presented during the second press day of the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show, following a designers' luncheon and keynote speech by Daniel Simon, visionary futurist and author of Cosmic Motors. As we reported last month, nine local Southern California design studios entered the competition to envisage how motor sport vehicles might be in the year 2025, answering the theme ‘Motorsports 2025'.