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

Ford Fiesta ST500 (2008): first official pictures

By Dimitri Pesin First Official Pictures 10 June 2008 16:36 As we prepare to wave goodbye to the current Fiesta, Ford has released a special edition ST to keep interest in its hot-hatch alive. A hard job indeed, with the stunning looks of the Verve concept being carried through to the next-gen car. It hasn't stopped Ford trying hard though and, following in the footsteps of the Focus ST500 that was released in 2008, all Fiesta ST 500 models come in metallic black with a U-shaped stripe on the front. According to Ford, the new scheme is designed to echo the livery of the classic Escort RS2000 of the ‘70s.

Ford to launch 25 new models in Europe in next 5 years

The new Ford S-mAx (pictured) is just one of 25 new Fords heading for Europe Ford of Europe has had a miserable time of late, with the European market in disarray as the Eurozone crisis continues to rumble and car buyers on the continent shy away from big ticket purchases. But, just as they did in the US, Ford are making plans to cash-in when the Eurozone economy improves in the coming years (not that that’s an absolute given) and are going to ready with a raft of new models to tempt mainstream buyers when economies start to grow and car finance becomes a realistic option for more once again. Barb Samardzich, Ford’s head of product development in Europe, says Ford are planning to make their portfolio of products the best ever in anticipation of a recovery, with a huge 25 new models launching over the next five years, and they will be additions to the Ford line-up or new generations, not variants.

Volkswagen shows off new 1.8-liter engine for Jetta, Passat, and Beetle

Volkswagen is rolling out a new 1.8-liter turbocharged and direct-injected TSI engine which will debut in the Jetta, Beetle, and Passat later this year. This thrifty new engine will replace the 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine now available in those models. But the 1.8-liter is no slouch: it produces the same 170 hp as the outgoing five-cylinder engine, while adding 7 lb-ft torque for a total of 184.