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

Vauxhall Astra VXR (2011) first official pictures

This is the new Vauxhall Astra VXR, a hot hatch from Luton offering the power of a Ford Focus RS for the price of a Ford Focus ST. Just how powerful is the new Vauxhall Astra VXR? A direct injection and turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine provides the power and torque, 276bhp and 295lb ft respectively.

Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid: Production underway

The world’s first production plug-in diesel hybrid – the Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid – has gone in to production ahead of customer deliveries. Volvo are producing just 1,000 2013 V60 plug-ins, but are aiming to up production to between 4-6,000 a year from the 2014 model year and, despite the problems of integrating the V60′s complicated electric stuff in to a production car, the V60 plug-in is rolling down the same production line as the regular V60, V70, S80 and XC90. That complicated stuff includes two different powertrains and a battery pack – enough for up to 32 miles as an EV only – and a total of 300 additional parts compared to a regular ICE V60.

Volvo You concept is the shape of things to come

The sleek Volvo concept unveiled at the Frankfurt auto show is headed to production, said Volvo Chairman Li Shufu. "The board has approved production of the concept, known as You, but the timetable has to be finalized,'' Li said during an interview at the Frankfurt auto show. He said it will be "somewhere around 2015." It's part of the plan by Chinese owner Zhejiang Geely to move the Volvo brand upscale.