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

CES: GM to open the dashboard to developers

At last year's Autoweek Design Forum, father of the iPod and Nest Labs co-founder Tony Fadell suggested that automakers concentrate on designing and building cars, leaving handset makers to handle infotainment. The latest announcements from Ford and GM -- in conjunction with the International CES -- suggest that automakers would rather treat the dashboard space as a handset. Yesterday, Dearborn, Mich., announced the Ford Developer Program, which opens up Sync to outside application development; now General Motors has announced a similar initiative.

Ireland preparing to ban smoking in cars

Ireland prepare to ban smoking in cars Maybe the erosion of individual liberties should be secondary to safety (although we would argue the contrary), but surely banning smoking in cars – as Ireland appear close to doing – is a very silly route to go? Of course, since anything that can be remotely construed as a company car is already somewhere you’re not allowed to smoke, banning smoking in private cars is, perhaps, a logical step. The argument is that smoking in cars is detrimental to the health of children who are passengers.

MG's return: how the Chinese will relaunch MG in 2011

MG TF roadster likely to die this year MG is relaunching in the UK first - in summer 2011 with the arrival of the 6 hatchback and saloon. It's a half-sized family car straddling the C- and D-segments, a bit like Skoda's Octavia, and will be priced aggressively. The company says the MG 6 will cost from £17,000-£20,000 when first deliveries happen in April 2011.