Van Dorn 55* Vibro Centric Valve Seat Grinder on 2040-parts.com

New Skoda Rapid: Beijing 2012

Skoda Rapid debuts in Beijing The new Skoda Rapid – a new Skoda to sit between the Fabia and Octavia – has been previewed at the Beijing Motor Show. Skoda revealed the MissionL Concept at last year’s Frankfurt Motor Show which neatly filled a gap in the Skoda range between the Fabia and the Octavia. And now it’s turning in to a production model – the Skoda Rapid.

McLaren P1 Geneva reveal confirmed & first instrument view

The McLaren P1 supercar has been confirmed for a Geneva Motor Show debut and we get the first peek at the P1′s ‘Race’ instruments. McLaren are certainly making the most of the reveal of the P1 and are still keeping the exact specifications close to their chest, although we do know that the P1 will get a modified version of the V8 in the 12C with a hybrid KERS type boost offering something north of 900bhp. But McLaren has thrown us a titbit of extra information with the Geneva confirmation in the form of two photos of the digital instruments in the P1 (inset above and in the main photo gallery for the P1).

How South America designed the Ford Ka

The Ka Concept was shown at the São Paulo auto show in Brazil in November 2013, and was revealed in production form last week. It marks the first time the Ka has reflected the broader brand homogeneity of the 'One Ford' design strategy, and continues the Ka's shift in direction from the distinctive original.The new car is the work of Ford's South American design studio in Camaçari, Brazil - its second 'One Ford' car, following the EcoSport. But while the crossover enters a new segment, the 17-year history of the Ka nameplate in Brazil gives an insight into how the demands of the local market have taken precedence over design iconicity.