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

Skoda Yeti Laurin & Klement adds gloss to the Yeti

Skoda has revealed a range-topping Yeti SUV – the Yeti Laurin & Klement – with extra equipment over the Yeti Elegance. It might sounds like a firm of solicitors, but Laurin & Klement (Václav Laurin and Václav Klement) are the founders of what is now SKODA and Skoda use their names to badge their range-topping cars, hence the Skoda Yeti Laurin & Klement. The Yeti Laurin & Klement starts off as a Yeti Elegance before Skoda bolt on £4,000 worth of extra goodies, and you can have it only as a 4WD with the 1.8-litre TSI 160PS, 2.0-litre TDI CR 140PS DSG or 2.0-litre TDI CR 170PS engines.

Mercedes signs joint venture to build carbonfibre parts

Not to be outdone by BMW’s joint venture with the SGL Group to manufacturer commercially viable carbonfibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) for the electric Megacity Vehicle, Mercedes has announced a joint venture with Japanese company Toray Industries to manufacturer and market its on CFRP automotive parts. The deal was signed in Germany today, with Toray taking a 50.1% stake, Daimler holding 44.9% and the remaining 5% being taken by other shareholders. The two companies started working together in March 2010, and while Toray has been working on the materials and moulding processes, Merc has designed the automotive parts and the technologies to join the parts together.

MAZDA5 RESIDUAL PERFORMANCE IS 'BEST KEPT SECRET'

A NEW diesel version of the Mazda5 MPV has stormed onto the market with the best residuals in its class. Used car valuation expert CAP has described the 1.6-litre diesel model as a "best kept secret" and has predicted that the Sport model will retain 32 per cent of its value after three-years and 60,000-miles. The TS2 model also performs extremely well, with a 31 per cent retained value predicted.