Carefree Of Colorado Cf Bottom Bracket Black 901019 on 2040-parts.com

BMW Alpina D3 BiTurbo – a great diesel

The BMW Alpina D3 BiTurbo - a brilliant, quick and economical everyday drive Alpina has turned out some stunning versions of the BMW range over the years (and some not so stunning – their 8 Series springs to mind) and they fill a gap that is either not profitable in small volume for BMW or, in some cases, a hole that BMW hasn’t plugged. And this one is a good hole to fill with the BMW Alpina D3 Bi-Turbo, a 3 Series diesel with the heart of a hot hatch. Alpina has taken the engine out of the 1 Series 123d and given it a boost to 240bhp, in the process dropping the 0-60 time to a very creditable 6.9 seconds But it’s not the sprint that count,  but the way this peppy diesel unit delivers it.

Gift Guide: Automotive apparel for all seasons

From the earliest days of motoring, the relationship between automobiles and apparel has been symbiotic. Clothing worn by Brass Era car and motorcycle buffs was adopted mostly to protect drivers from the elements, rather than from the hazards of speed. Floor-length dusters, motoring coats and driving caps shielded motorists from cold wind and choking dust.

Citroën Creative Award winners announced

The 2012 Citroën Creative Awards presentation ceremony was held last week, with ten prize winners receiving awards for their submissions in a global competition. The contest, which attracted over 800 entries from 87 different countries, was organized into three main categories, in which both experienced and amateur designers were encouraged to take part in. Wouter Van Vugt, a Dutch graphic designer, for his entry ‘Junior Driver', won the ‘Ideas Contest', which focused on the traveling comfort of future Citroën cars.