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

Brabus kit improves diesel Mercedes power

German tuner Brabus does most of its work with big-displacement, big-power engines, mostly for Mercedes-Benz (though Smart products get the Brabus treatment from time to time as well). On Monday, it proved that it can do the same with the company’s oil burners. It’ll also sell you a Mercedes diesel with Brabus upgrades already installed.

Videos: Volkswagen's exterior and interior designers highlight the Up's design elements

We've enjoyed the design of Volkswagen's new Up since we first saw the vehicle in concept form at the 2007 Frankfurt motor show. Devoid of any extraneous detailing, the simple, product design aesthetic is pared back to represent the crux of VW's design philosophy: pure, simple and solid.  The result is a harmonious design that stands out from the pack, with simple surfacing and subtle detailing; the Up's design is pure and minimalistic, which serves to exude quality in the product. Inside, the vehicle is brimming with space-saving design details.  From an IP devoid of central air vents to a thin headrest that visually extends the height of the interior, the Up is a success story in space efficiency, but it is also finished to a high level using quality materials.

Cadillac CTS-V priced to undercut M5, XFR

By Gareth Evans Motor Industry 21 January 2009 10:17 Cadillac’s new CTS-V supersaloon – claimed to be the be the most powerful Cadillac ever built – will undercut its European competition by several thousand pounds. Prices will start at £56,495, positioning the new Cadillac CTS-V just below the new Jaguar XF-R (£59,900) and comfortably undercutting German rivals such as the BMW M5 (£63,325) and Audi RS6 (a fulsome £74,550). Performance figures for the CTS-V make interesting reading, with 60mph being dispatched in 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 191mph for the manual car (175mph for the automatic).