Kibblewhite Precision Black Diamond Exhaust Valve 40-4192 on 2040-parts.com

Concept Car of the Week: Renault Argos (1994)

The 1994 Renault Argos concept is the little sports car based on the humble Twingo that continues to resonate in design terms. Designed by current PSA Director of Design, Jean-Pierre Ploué, the minimalist three-seater ushered in a new design movement dubbed ‘Esprit Nouveau' (New Spirit) that re-instated The Car as an industrial machine after a period of organic, Bio-design influence. Pared-back, broken down into its component parts and proudly bare, the Argos mixed the post-industrial functionality of a contemporary fighter aircraft with a twist of Steampunk fantasy.

BMW axes B-class rival

By Georg Kacher Motor Industry 07 August 2006 09:26 BMW has put on ice plans for a mini-MPV based on the 3-series, to rival the Mercedes B-class. Instead, it will focus on a bigger, Mercedes R-class challenger, due in 2009. 'Originally, we looked at two different space-functional concepts: one was based on the 3-series, the other one on the 5-series,' said a source.

Toyota tests chips that improve hybrid efficiency by 10 percent

Toyota announced on Tuesday that it has developed a new semiconductor, claiming it can boost fuel efficiency in hybrid cars by an impressive 10 percent. The semiconductors manage the flow of electricity through the power-control unit that connects the battery to an electric or hybrid car's motor and generator. The newly developed semiconductors are said to consume only a tenth of the energy of today's chips, while allowing the power-control unit to be 80 percent smaller.