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

Lotus's glimmer of hope: Proton stands by Hethel

After another painful year of sales for Lotus in the UK – down 58% on 2011 - Norfolk's beleagured sports car brand has kicked off the New Year with the grand unveiling of its new flagship Malaysian showroom, and the thumbs-up from senior Proton company suits that Lotus isn't on its last legs. The announcement comes in the same week Lotus’s sales figures were released for 2012. Showing a substantial 58% decrease in sales and selling just 137 vehicles, Lotus Cars was the worst performer in the UK with a woeful 0.01% share of the market.  Are Lotus's Malaysian owners sticking by the company?

Nissan Qashqai production increased – jobs created

Nissan has increased production of the Qashqai to cope with demand We thought the original Nissan Qashqai was a decent car. It looks set to improve in a number of important areas when the 2010 Qashqai hits showrooms in March, and it seems that the great car buying public is in agreement as Nissan has just announced that they are to increase production at their plant in Sunderland to cope with demand for the new Qashqai. With all the grief in the car industry last year Nissan cut production back to two shifts in Sunderland.

CCS receives $2.5m GM Grant

General Motors is set to strengthen its longstanding commitment to Detroit's College for Creative Studies with a $2.5 million donation, a contribution that will help the university undertake a $145 million redevelopment of its A. Alfred Taubman Center for Design Education. This is not the first time that GM has given to CCS – the ongoing relationship between them sees members of the GM design team teach and mentor students, while CCS also receives loans of industrial equipment from its Detroit neighbor.