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

BMW X3 gets a turbo four-cylinder

BMW is expanding the use of its N20 turbocharged four-cylinder engine by making it the base powerplant for the 2013 X3 SUV. The X3 xDrive28 will use the twin-scroll turbocharged 2.0-liter engine that produces 240 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. Twin-scroll turbocharging means that the exhaust stream of cylinders one and four follow a separate path to the turbine wheel from cylinders two and three.

Vauxhall VXR8 & SMART for-two CDI take MPG Marathon honours

Vauxhall VXR8 & SMART for-two CDI take MPG Marathon honours On the face of it, it’s reasonable to expect a car as small as the SMART for-two CDI to be capable of astonishing economy if driven in a certain way. And the ALD Automotive / Shell FuelSave MPG Marathon, run last week near Cirencester, proved exactly that, with a SMART driven by Mick Linford and co-driver Ella Flynn managing to use less than four gallons of diesel to cover the 370 mile route. That means the SMART fortwo CDI averaged 99.24mpg on the route on real roads, an improvement of 16 per cent on the official combined figure of 85.6.

2013 VW Beetle R-Line Package

Volkswagen has revealed two R-Line Packs for the new Beetle – one for the interior, one for the exterior – to spice up the Beetle. The VW Beetle we’re really looking forward to that has an ‘R’ on its boot is the Beetle R, but it looks like we’ll have to make do with an ‘R’ cosmetic makeover for now in the guise of the VW Beetle R-Line. Volkswagen has revealed a pair of R-Line packs for the new Beetle that add a bit more purpose to the Beetle pastiche – one for the exterior and one for the interior.