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

VW CrossBlue Coupe Concept heading for Shanghai

Volkswagen are heading to the Shanghai Motor Show with a new SUV concept as car makers strive to satisfy car buyer’s lust for rugged cars to prowl the urban landscape. But the VW CrossBlue Concept doesn’t seem to be a car that fits in to the fad for compact SUVs, rather it’s a full-size SUV that appears to be a coupe version of the VW CrossBlue Concept we saw earlier this year in Detroit. So far we only have a sketch of the CrossBlue Coupe, and you can be pretty sure it won’t be quite as ‘Coupe’ as the sketches indicate when it does turn up in Shanghai this weekend; think more Audi Q7 than Mercedes GLA.

Toyota GT86 Convertible (the Toyota FT-86 Concept) at Tokyo with roof up

The Toyota FT-86 Open Concept (pictured) gets a roof and new paint job for Tokyo 2013 The Toyota FT-86 Open Concept (effectively a roadster version of the GT86) made an appearance earlier this year at the Geneva Motor Show, and now Toyota are lining up a new version of the FT-86 for their home show in Tokyo. The FT-86 Open may be billed as a concept, but it’s clear Toyota are keen to see the GT86 Roadster go in to production, and the latest FT-86 for Tokyo demonstrates that with a new paint job and the first views of the fabric roof in place. Complementing the FT-86′s new red paint job it gets door handles, windscreen surround and door mirrors in contrasting grey and the interior gets a set of red carpets.

Changes at Nissan Design

Nissan yesterday announced a series of changes within its higher-level design structure - with VPs responsible for design in Europe and America effectively swapping roles. Alfonso Albaisa, who became VP of Design at Nissan Design Europe's London-based studio in 2007, will be going back to Nissan Design America's San Diego studio as VP of Design. It marks a return to the West Coast for Albaisa, who originally joined Nissan in 1988.