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

Audi Urban Future Awards

Audi has challenged six international architects to present their vision for a future urban landscape that will explore the interplay between mobility, architecture and the city. The winner of the Audi Urban Future Awards will receive a €100,000 prize to be presented at the Venice Biennale in August. Phase one has been completed, with the contestants presenting their hypothesis for the city of the future at the Royal Institute of British Architects in London in May.

Merc to revive straight six, plus 4cyl and smaller V8s

Mercedes has just signed off a new engine family which will see most full-sized Mercs in future run four-cylinders, downsized V8s and… straight sixes. A friendly Mercedes engineer recently met CAR to disclose the engine plans for future models, including the surprise disclosure that Merc plans to switch to straight sixes, like its rivals over in Munich.  It's fair to say I almost choked on my breakfast croissant when I found out the details of the next MB engine generation which has just been signed off for release in 2015. Mercedes' future four-cylinder engines Again, there will be a family of new low-cost fours, and the big-bore V8s will be replaced by a series of downsized turbocharged 4.0-litre units.

GM shifts gears, will keep Opel

General Motors' board of directors has decided that it will keep the Opel business and restructure it, putting an end to plans to sell the European operations to auto supplier Magna International. GM said it expects the restructuring of Opel to cost $4.42 billion (3 million euros), which it says is lower than the costs associated with outside bids for the company. GM said it will soon present its restructuring plans for Opel to the German government and other governments in Europe.