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

Chip Foose returns to Disney's Car Masters Weekend

Automotive designer Chip Foose will return to this year's Car Masters Weekend at Downtown Disney on 15-16 June. Foose, who is also a hot rod shop owner, fabricator and star of the reality TV series Overhaulin' on Velocity, has created pieces of original artwork featuring landmarks from Walt Disney World Resort, finished in his signature marker style. Works by Foose were put on display last year in Disney California Adventure's Car's Land attraction.

Alfa Romeo MiTo

This is Alfa Romeo's latest compact car, the MiTo. The new car draws its name from the abbreviations of two Italian cities: Milan, the city that brought the car's style into being, and Turin, which will be responsible for its industrial production. The first new Alfa Romeo to be built since the 8C Competizione, the MiTo borrows many characteristic element from its larger 'halo' sibling: the shape of the frameless side windows, the distinctive frontal treatment, the shape of the headlights and the LED tail lights.

The fall and rise of the budget car

Twenty years ago, the classic bargain brands like Lada seemed to be going the same way as the Soviet empire that spawned them. Woefully dated and badly made, only a weirdo would have bought a new Lada rather than a second-hand model from Ford, Vauxhall or VW. However, one of the big trends in the car industry today is the re-emergence of bargain cars.