Threaded Rod (dorman #672-009) on 2040-parts.com

Europe's Car of the Year 2011 shortlist announced

The 41 contenders for Europe's 2011 Car of the Year trophy have been whittled down to the final seven as the European CoTY shortlist is announced today. The winner will be voted for by 59 of Europe's most influential motoring journalists, including two CAR writers: editor Phil McNamara and European editor Georg Kacher. The 2010 winner - by just 10 points ahead of the Toyota iQ - was the Volkswagen Polo. Like the Eurovision Song Contest, Car of the Year has proved controversial in the past with accusations of block-voting and blind patriotism, yet the award remains one of the most prestigious in the motor industry.

Video: Watch a Mini Countryman do a backflip

We've seen a backflip on a snowmobile, we've seen the double backflip from Travis Pastrana on his dirtbike, and we saw Rhys Millen almost land a backflip in his off-road truck on New Year's Eve. Apparently, Mini thought it would cap the fad's run by flipping a car. Extreme sportsman, freestyle skier and rally driver Guerlain Chicherit made the attempt at the winter sports resort of Tignes in France.

This is the new Audi S1

Audi has turned its limited-production Audi A1 Quattro into a full series-production model with the three-door S1 and five-door S1 Sportback. Designed to take on the likes of the new Mini Cooper S, the new entry-level Audi S models make their world debut at the Geneva show early next month. Audi says the S1 and S1 Sportback won't be sold in the U.S.