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

The Mini is 50 years old today

  Today - 08/05/2009 - is the 50th anniversary of the first Mini rolling off the production line. To celebrate, and for a bit of free publicity (see, we’re playing the game) BMW has shipped the first Mini to roll of the production line back to Cowley to celebrate (picture at the bottom). 621 AOK, a Mini Minor, in Old English White, looks as fresh as the day it rolled off the production line half a century ago (although I wouldn’t mind betting it doesn’t have it’s original sills – they always rusted through – or copes with its original distributor and leads – one splash of rain and the car ground to a halt!).

McLaren on track to launch MP4 in U.S. in '11

McLaren's plan to launch the 200-mph MP4 supercar in the United States and Canada in mid-2011 are on course, says the newly appointed boss of North American operations. Tony Joseph, McLaren's regional director for North America, says rumors that the North American launch of the MP4 is being delayed are untrue. “There is no validity in that story whatsoever,” he says.

Vauxhall Zafira Tourer to undercut Ford S-Max price by over £1,200

Vauxhall Zafira Tourer undercuts the S-Max on price We had the usual tease for the Vauxhall Zafira Tourer – Vauxhall’s answer to the Ford S-Max – earlier this year, with the Zafira Tourer finally turning up at the Geneva Motor Show in the Spring and a proper, production reveal a couple of months later. And it looks a convincing effort by Vauxhall to take the fight to the S-Max in the ‘Sporty’ MPV stakes. If any MPV can ever be considered a ‘Sporty’ proposition, that is.