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

VW Golf R 400 could get more than 400PS – which makes a bit of a nonsense of its name

The VW Golf R 400 (pictured) may not actually be an R 400 The Beijing Motor Show last month saw the debut of the VW Golf R 400, an extreme take on the VW Golf R with a full 400 PS (395bhp) at its disposal. When Volkswagen revealed the R 400 as a concept we did note that it looked more production-ready than concept, and it took VW less than a week to confirm that the Golf R 400 was indeed heading for production. Now, just to muddy the waters a bit (or raise expectations), VW’s R&D chief Heinz-Jakob Neusser has said that when the Golf R 400 does arrive it could well be with more than 400PS.

Gilles Vidal: innovative materials key to Peugeot's future

Future Peugeots will be defined by their use of materials in a bid to shift the brand upmarket, according to design director Gilles Vidal. Raw, unprocessed materials, he says, will not only prove more ecologically sound, but also more engaging. And his plans don't stop there.

Driverless 'pods' to hit Milton Keynes

DRIVERLESS cars will transport people through the streets of a British town in a £1.5 million project aimed at boosting green technology. From 2015 an initial batch of 20 driver-operated "pods", which will be able to carry two people, will be run on designated pathways separated from pedestrians in Milton Keynes. But by mid-2017 it is planned that 100 fully autonomous vehicles will run on pathways alongside people, using sensors to avoid collisions with obstacles.