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

Subaru XV gets a price cut – down by £1300 on 1.6 litre versions

It wasn’t a bad starting point for an able mid-sized crossover – a high-riding Impreza, in all but name –  but it wasn’t the cheapest offering in the class. But now, with the Yen being a bit kinder to Japanese car makers, Subaru has decided to nudge the price a bit lower to start the XV range off below £20k for the first time. The price drop for the XV only applies to the 1.6 litre petrol versions, but you can now get the entry-level XV 1.6i S for a more affordable £19,995 rising to £23,415 for the XV 1.6i SE with the Lineartronic gearbox, reductions across the range of £1300.

Official 2014 BMW 4-series convertible photo gallery

Feast your eyes on the new 2014 BMW 4-series convertible: The newest drop-top BMW looks, well, a lot like you'd expect a hardtop convertible version of the company's new 4-series coupe to look. Mimicking the rest of the 4-series lineup, the 2014 4-series convertible will be offered in I-4 428i and straight-six 435i versions, each with a standard 8-speed automatic. Only the 428i will be available with BMW's xDrive AWD system at launch, however -- RWD is standard on both trim levels.

2009 Mercedes-Benz S Class

The Mercedes S Class has long been at the forefront of car technology. You can bet your boots that what we see on any new S Class will be where mainstream makers go in years to come. The S Class was first with things like inertia reel belts and air-bags, and the 2009 Mercedes S Class (perhaps we should call it the 2010 Mercedes S Class in deference to our US friends) – although an update rather than new model – follows this tradition.