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

MINI gets a BMW 2.0 litre diesel

BMW 2.0 litre diesel in a MINI raises the prospect of a MINI John Cooper Works diesel [ad#ad-1] Just like every other car maker, MINI is trying to find a way to give their cars extra eco-kudos but still be able to deliver what their customers want. Hybrids, electric cars and other ‘eco-friendly’ options are one way to go, but diesels, with their extra torque and modern power, can deliver much of what a zippy little petrol unit can (even if they do lose some of the subtlety). So BMW are looking at ways to inject a little more economy in to the MINI Cooper, and if possible a little more power.

Lifetime of commuting 'costs £50,000'

A CAREER-LONG commute is likely to set a worker back an average of £50,000, according to a survey. For a Londoner starting work at 18 and finishing at 65, the cost of commuting could reach as high as £66,000, the poll by investing service Nutmeg.com found. Overall, commuters will spend an average of 10,634 hours travelling to and from work in their lifetime - the equivalent of 443 days.

First Sight: Volkswagen Iroc concept

The Iroc is a show car preview of a production coupe to be launched next year that will fill a gap in the Volkswagen model line up left by the demise of the Corrado 11 years ago. Volkswagen describe the Iroc as "transferring the globally successful Scirocco idea into the future" - the Scirocco Mk1 by Giugiaro being produced from 1974-1982, the Mk2 from 1982-1992. Like the Scirocco, the Iroc is a front wheel drive coupe with four seats - as opposed to the 2+2 seating arrangement of the only other sports coupe from Volkswagen Group: the Audi TT.