Ported Vacuum Switch Standard Pvs53 on 2040-parts.com

Mini John Cooper Works concept (2014) first official pictures

By Ollie Kew First Official Pictures 17 December 2013 16:00 This is the Mini John Cooper Works concept, which previews the look of the hottest version of the new third-gen Mini. The new JCW takes the larger, third-gen Mini three-door, which was revealed at Oxford last month, and gives it a triple nostrilled front bumper, red bodywork accents and myriad (doubtless superficial) vents for a racier look than its predecessor. New intakes also usurp the previous car’s front foglights, and 18in five-spoke alloys ape the look of the outgoing Mini GP flagship.

Alfa Romeo 4C arrives stateside in New York

Not long after the last transport departed New York Harbor with a cargo of unsold 164s, an Alfa Romeo executive was probably quoted as saying, "we will return next year!" We have been eagerly anticipating the return of Alfa Romeo for the last 19 years, long enough for the last Milano to rust whence it came, every year the brand just another year away! Well, this year -- yes, this year, finally, no really -- the Alfa Romeo 4C heralds the brand's reintroduction to America -- just as it did last year, remember -- as early as this summer. You'll have to forgive us for such skepticism -- we've been burned by our desire to invoke Italian driving passion and all that, but it's also hurting the Fiat dealers who scrape by on a lack of product.

Mini debuts four new design lines for 2014 Cooper

Mini Coopers really come to life when finished in the marque's signature appearance packages, such as Union Jack roofs and checkered flag mirror caps, and for the third-generation three-door hardtops debuting this spring the automaker is debuting some new designs. Minis have always been about personalization, and since the brand's relaunch under BMW's roof owners seemed to appreciate the cheeky designs that included roof graphics, grille-mounted headlights, racing stripes for the hood, and mirror caps. All those features are coming back for the new 2014 three-door Hardtops, and along with them the company is introducing a lineup of four Mini Characters, called Vivid Green, Speedwell Blue, John Cooper Works Pro, and Essential Black.