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

VW Taigun: It’s an Up! SUV

Volkswagen has revealed the VW Taigun at the Sao Paulo Motor Show in Brazil, a very compact SUV based on the VW Up! The Taigun is 3859mm long and 1728mm wide, making it a chunk smaller than the next VW SUV up (the Tiguan) and smaller even than Nissan’s Juke, but it gets an extra 50mm in the wheelbase compared to the Up so interior room looks decent. Vw say the Taigun is purposely designed to look just like a mini-me Tiguan or Touareg (and sound like one too) with its very similar styling, high ride height, skid plates and roof rails with an interior that offers room for four and enough spce for 280 litre of stuff in the boot (a plentiful 987 litres with the back seats folded).

Silver linings: Saab and Mitsubishi see sales grow in May

Despite the company’s financial troubles, Saab sales are steadily increasing in 2011, with April and May numbers up 190 percent and 121 percent, respectively, from the same months last year. The Swedish automaker reported 385 units sold this May, versus 155 the year prior. So far this year, Saab has sold 2,765 vehicles, compared with 954 at the same point last year.

Lowie Vermeersch resigns from Pininfarina

CDN has learned that Lowie Vermeersch has resigned from Pininfarina, where he was Design Director. According to our sources, the Belgian designer has left to pursue other as yet unnamed ventures in the design industry. Vermeersch has been at Pininfarina for the last 12 years, leading the design team that created the new Ferrari 458 as well as the Duettottanta and Sintesi concept cars.