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

High-five for Mini's new, larger hatchback

THE LONG-RUMOURED five-door Mini hatchback has finally been unveiled, featuring an extra seat, more legroom and a larger boot than the three-door. By using a longer and wider body, the five-door is able to offer 72mm more legroom for rear passengers, who can also now access the new row of three seats via small but useful rear doors. Boot space is up to 278 litres, which although still comparatively low is 67 more than the three-door hatch can boast.

Bahrain Grand Prix: Rosberg takes pole for Mercedes

So much for the 2013 Mercedes being uncompetitive. Nico Rosberg put in a strong performance in Bahrain in qualifying for tomorrow’s F1 race, beating Sebastian Vettel in to second place and Fernando Alonso in to third. But whether this was a qualifying ‘special’ from Mercedes we won’t really know until tomorrow.

Support For Fuel Duty Pothole Plan

MORE than four in five people would support a plan in which money raised from fuel duty was used to repair potholed roads, research has found. Support is highest in eastern England, Wales and Yorkshire and Humberside, according to a survey by the Local Government Association (LGA). The LGA said the Treasury got £33 billion a year from fuel duty, while the Government was spending just under £2 billion a year on maintaining and improving roads over the next five years.