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

BMW's new 5-series next for hybrid power

The new BMW 5-series being launched this winter is likely to be the next BMW to receive the ActiveHybrid system pioneered on the petrol-electric 7-series and X6 models. BMW engineers admit they can't rely on sales of the pricey hybrid 7-series and X6 to justify the development costs, even though these range-topping halo hybrids were jointly developed with Daimler and GM. Senior sources have indicated that the new 2010 5-series will be the next BMW to get an ActiveHybrid model.

VW Race Touareg 3 (2011) first pictures

You might usually associate the Volkswagen Touareg with school-run mums whose furthest foray off-road is up the kerb and onto a wet field – this is something different, this is the new VW Race Touareg 3. That there is, and it’s the Race Touareg 2 that’s taken the chequered flag at the last two Dakar rallies, becoming the first diesel-powered winner in 2009. And after 2010’s 1-2-3 finish, the VW board decided it was onto a good thing and commissioned Volkswagen Motorsport to update its Touareg racer for the January 2011 race.

Hyundai i30 Tourer gets five-star Euro NCAP

The latest version of Hyundai’s i30 Estate – the Hyundai i30 Tourer – has gained a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating – the same as the i30 hatch. Hyundai has placed plenty of emphasis on the safety stuff in their cars too, with the i30, i20, ix35, ix20, i40, Veloster and latest i30 all getting a five star Euro NCAP rating. And now the new i30 Tourer has joined the gang with its very own top rank safety rating.