Engine Expansion Plug Dorman 02588 on 2040-parts.com

Koons's BMW Art Car to race at Le Mans

BMW will field the latest in its long series of Art Cars at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, June 12-13. This is the 17th Art Car commissioned by BMW. Jeff Koons follows others such as Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol and Jenny Holzer in designing an Art Car.

First Sight: Mini

The first 'New' Mini was launched just five years ago, replacing the original Mini that had changed only in detail since its 1959 debut. Designed by Frank Stephenson, now head of design at Fiat, the current design has been a sales success and most significantly has been very influential in demonstrating how small cars need not be explicitly functionalist, smaller versions of larger car types or feel cheap. The new 'New' Mini, designed under the direction of Gert Hildebrand at Mini, is announced today with exterior design by Marcus Syring, interior design by Marc Girard and colour and trim design by Annette Baumeister.

New Audi A1 Sportback: The Five-Door A1 arrives for 2012

Audi reveals the new A1 Sportback 5 Door With almost two years of sales of the ‘Only Premium Car in its Class’ (Audi’s assertion), Audi has revealed the more practical version of its smallest car – the five-door Audi A1 Sportback. Visually, the five-door A1 looks just the same as the three-door A1 – with the obvious addition of a pair of back doors – but Audi has managed to 6mm in height and width which, they say, improves room in the back. Which it may, but as the length and wheelbase remain the same it won’t do anything for legroom.