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

2013 Dacia Duster costs from £8995

Renault has revealed that the Dacia Duster compact SUV will cost from £8,995 in the UK for the 2WD version.  Renault threatened that the Dacia brand’s arrival in the UK – and in particular the Dacia Duster SUV – would offer ”Shockingly Affordable Prices’. And they’re not wrong. We thought the Dacia SUV would dip under £10k, but Renault has priced the new Duster in its basic form - admittedly with FWD – at just £8,995.

Tokyo Motor Show: Mini appears across the globe

FRESH from its world debut at the Cowley plant in which it will be built, the new third-generation Mini has made its Asian debut at the Tokyo Motor Show. Both the modern Mini, and before it the original Issigonis Mini, are extremely popular in Japan where its strong British identity and high degree of personalisation hold strong appeal. The third generation version will build on that with its enhanced looks and specification.

Lotus Exige S Roadster Official: Price (£52,800) and Specs

It’s the first properly good news from Lotus for a while, and looks a promising offering at the same price (£52,800) as the tin top Exige S and, remarkably for a convertible, actually weighing less than the hard top – although by only 10kg. The Exige S Roadster gets the same 3.5 litre V6 as the coupe which means 345bhp, 295lb/ft of torque and a 0-60mph of a very respectable 3.8 seconds, but it does lose the coupe’s rear wing and front splitter for better airflow. The folding roof on the Roadster is a manual affair, but Lotus say fresh air motoring is just ‘Two clicks and a roll away’, so the manual roof is probably the best – and lightest – option.