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

MINI celebrates 100 years of car production in Oxford

MINI will be celebrating a century of car production in Oxford on 28th March 2013, 100 years since the first Bullnose Morris Oxford was produced. It’s 100 years since the first Bullnose Morris Oxford rolled out on 28th March 1903, since when 11,655,000 cars have been built – with as many as 28,000 people employed in its heyday – and even Tiger Moth planes and Iron Lungs built alongside 80,000 repairs to Spitfires and Hurricanes during WWII. What is now MINI’s Plant Oxford was founded by William Morris – and Morris Motors kept control until 1952 – and has been owned and run by BMC, then British Motor Holdings (when Jaguar arrived), British Leyland (when Leyland Trucks, Triumph and Rover joined), nationalisation in the 1970s saw a variety of names, Rover Group arrived in 1986 and was subsequently privatised and sold in 1994 to BMW.

Bentley SUV engines revealed

Bentley SUV engines will include a V6 Hybrid The Bentley SUV is at the Beijing Motor Show unchanged, but Bentley has now revealed its likely powertrains. You have to wonder if Bentley regrets revealing their EXP 9 F – the Bentley SUV – at Geneva in the Spring? Few seem to object too strongly to the idea of Bentley making an SUV – it’s a money-maker, after all – but the consensus was that Bentley had failed to present a convincing concept.

Volvo V70

Volvo has just released details of the all-new Volvo V70 wagon. With its more athletic lines, fast windscreen angle, blacked-out side pillars and C30-inspired taillights, the V70's style is said to hint at its newfound on-road dynamism. The rear end features an unusual design where the tailgate takes the upper area of lamps with it when opened, giving the advantage of making the trunk aperture larger than before.