Vintage Pflueger Phantom M-10 Trolling Motor on 2040-parts.com

European new car sales in record LOW

European new car registrations have plunged to their LOWEST level on record after slow August sales reversed an upturn in July. Registrations of 7,841,596 new cars between January-August 2013 marked a new low for the European new car market of 27 countries – so few cars have never previously been recorded since records began in 1990. 2013 UK new car sales forecast revised upwards European new car sales continue to struggle The UK new car market is the sole exception: so far this year, new car registrations have risen 10.4%, compared to the European decline of 5.2% in the same time period.

BMWism.com compiles definitive history of BMW designers

BMW fansite, BMWism.com, has compiled a definitive history of the company's key designers throughout the ages. The list tracks the brand's creatives, from Lucien Rosengart in 1881, right up to Magnus Aspegren, now Director of the Singapore Studio of BMW Group Designworks USA. It also unearths some great images from the company's vaults.

Alfa MiTo TwinAir arrives

Alfa Romeo has bolted the 875cc TwinAir engine from the Fiat 500 in to the MiTo to produce a congestion charge busting new MiTo. The new Alfa Romeo MiTo TwinAir is a logical move by Alfa to produce a MiTo with green credentials but which still offer a decent drive and a dose of fun. In the Fiat 500, the TwinAir engine is a bit of a hoot, sounding a bit like a cross between a lawnmower and a 2-stroke and with bags of character and lively to boot.