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

Court order BANS publication of VW’s Luxury car security codes

Bentley is just one of VW’s marques whose security has been compromised There have been plenty of stories around in recent years of car makers’ security systems being easily hacked by spotty boys with a laptop, and now a scientist at Birmingham University has cracked VW’s Megamos Crypto system that protects cars like Bentley and Porsche. Flavia Garcia has cracked the code that transmits between VW’s luxury cars – like Bentleys and Porsches – and the key fob, which potentially fatally compromises VW’s security. Garcia had planned to publish his paper on the fatal flaws in the Megamos Crypto system at the Usenix Security Symposium in Washington next month, but a judge has put the kybosh on that.

Chevrolet Sonic at the 2011 Detroit auto show

One of GM's numerous debuts at the 2011 Detroit auto show was this: the Chevrolet Sonic. Shown as a hatchback and four-door notchback, it's one of The General's weapons to tackle the now-globalised Ford Fiesta and its ilk. Good spot. That's because this is the US-spec Aveo - albeit shown in US-only notchback form as well as the more Euro-flavoured hatchback.

Video: Honda Super Ultra Daydreams has us smiling with joy

Honda's press conference at last week's press conference was full of the usual marketing messages about sales figures, new models and company strategies but the thing that caught our magpie-like eyes was this joyful little video. The cheeky vector graphics feature 19 of the company's concept cars from the last 20 years, starting with the 1994 FSR right up to the NSX via such wonderful oddities as the Kiwami and P-Nut, all accompanied by a bouncy score.  It reminded us all why this is a brand that has always stood out as individual and creative even if the last few years have been a little sparse.