Kawasaki Kz 305 Csr Belt Drive " Speedometerachometer Drive Gear " on 2040-parts.com

Toyota Verso is the first Toyota to get a BMW engine

The Toyota Verso (pictured) gets the option of a 1.6 litre BMW diesel engine from 2014 Two years ago we reported that BMW would be supplying Toyota with diesel engines in Europe from 2014, And bang on time (as you’d expect from the Germans and Japanese) the first Toyota with a BMW engine has been revealed. The Toyota Verso 1.6 D-4D goes in to production in January at Toyota’s plant in Turkey complete with a 1.6 litre diesel engine from BMW that comes with 111bhp and 199lb/ft of torque. It’s not the sort of BMW diesel that’s going to see the Verso turn in to a hot MPV, but it does give the Verso emissions of 119g/km and allow Toyota to offer an engine that appeals to frugal minded, diesel-centric European buyers.

VW Beetle to get bigger seat

TThe successor to the New Beetle will arrive in 2012 with more space in the back seat and better packaging, said Stefan Jacoby, president and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America. Speaking at a press event in Germany, he also said the next generation of the Beetle will be "more of a halo car" for the Volkswagen brand. And Jacoby said he expects the next Beetle to achieve higher sales.

Honda CR-Z Hybrid – the promo video

Honda has released a promo video (below) for the Honda CR-Z Last month we got the specs and prices for the UK Honda CR-Z Hybrid, Honda’s modern hybrid take on the CR-X – they want us to believe. So having given us the buy price – it starts at £17k – and the specification – the basic gets Climate ,  CD player, heated door mirrors, rear dimming mirror, electric windows, daytime running lights and Shift Indicator Light (SIL) – it’s now time to get the marketing underway. Despite feeling that Honda are barking up the wrong tree by trying to make an underpowered hybrid powertrain seem an appealingly sporty prospect, we have to admire their wish to do so.