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

Daimler, Renault are set to share vehicle platforms and engines

Following a year of intensive high-level talks and secretive, behind the scenes strategy meetings, Daimler AG and Renault SA have agreed on plans that will see their car-making divisions--Mercedes-Benz, Smart, Renault and Nissan--share resources on a wide range of products. The move signals more consolidation within the European automotive industry. Daimler chairman Dieter Zetsche and Renault president Carlos Ghosn have set out three primary areas of cooperation that will see the carmakers share small-car and light-commercial-vehicle platforms, small gasoline and diesel engines, and electric drive systems.

VW Scirocco & VW Passat CC get BlueMotion Technology

The VW Passat CC BlueMotion Technology - with added economy Volkswagen is busy rolling out its BlueMotion Technology models (as opposed to the ultimate eco version in the range, which is simply ‘BlueMotion’) across its range, yielding some pretty impressive CO2 and fuel savings in the process. Now it’s the turn of the VW Scirocco and VW Passat CC to get the BlueMotion Technology tweaking and fettling to yield the right numbers to keep the taxman at bay. And, just as they have with other VW BlueTechnology models, VW has managed to tease and cajole some pretty impressive numbers from both the Scirocco and Passat CC.

One Lap of the Web: Two-wheeled mayhem

-- The C-01 certainly qualifies as the lightest vehicle Lotus has ever built, because it's a bicycle. A sleek, carbon fiber bicycle for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics that blew minds and won races, while distilling form into agonizingly pure function. Simplify, and add Shimanos.