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

How safe are new minicars?

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) recently tested a total of 11 minicars in its relatively new small-overlap crash test, and the Chevrolet Spark was the only one to earn an Acceptable rating. The small-overlap crash test was instituted in 2012 with the goal of better replicating real-life car crashes, most of which don't follow the pattern of traditional government crash tests. Instead of a car hitting a stationary object with 100 percent of its front making contact, the small-overlap test examines how a car behaves in a frontal impact at 40 mph where only a quarter of the car's front hits an object.

Chrysler, Mopar hope Ram Runner kit can challenge Ford SVT Raptor

In an effort to compete with the Ford SVT Raptor off-road pickup, Chrysler and parts group Mopar have released the Ram Runner kit. The Mopar Ram Runner kit, available for owners of 2009-2011 Dodge Ram 1500 models, can be installed at home or by the dealer for a total parts cost of just less than $20,000. The Ram Runner upgraders on a budget can add kit elements individually as well.

Citroen DS3 hits 200,000

The upmarket Citroen C3 – the very appealing Citroen DS3 – has hit the 200,000 production mark this week, a little over 2 years from launch. But we had to do a complete volte face when we finally had the new Citroen DS3 in for review – it’s an absolute cracker. In fact, so impressed were we with the DS3, we thought it probably the best car we’d had in during 2010, something Top Gear ended up agreeing with us on when they made it their car of 2010.