03 Cr 85 Cr85 Rear Shock Linkage 03-07 on 2040-parts.com

Michelin Challenge Design 2009

As the 2009 Michelin Challenge Design - focusing on the search for ‘America's Next Iconic Vehicle' - drew to a close at the NAIAS in Detroit, culminating in a press preview and an exhibition of scale models, the theme for next year's competition was announced: ‘Electrifying! Beautiful, Innovative and Radiant'. While it may sound like a slogan for a new line of women's cosmetics, this theme does in fact center on the increasingly relevant field of electric vehicle (EV) design; or more specifically the need to combine sustainable powertrains with attractive, well executed design.

Porsche Boxster (2012) first official pictures

Porsche only pulled the covers off the new 911 Cabriolet at the 2012 Detroit motor show three days ago, but it’s already unveiling another convertible: the new Porsche Boxster. Faster, lighter, cleaner, more economical, and (most importantly) better looking than its predecessor, it will be officially revealed at the Geneva motor show in March, before going on sale in the UK on 28 April 2012. Let’s start with the new Porsche Boxster’s looks then… It’s still recognisably a Boxster, but the headlights are now more vertically stacked, the doors are scalloped to flow into the bigger side intakes, a strong crease runs between the tail lamps and integrates with the pop-up rear spoiler, and every line and angle is just a little bit sharper and more dynamic.  The Porschephiles amongst you would have also spotted that the folding fabric roof no longer has a panel to drop behind; instead the roof itself now doubles as the cover when the hood is stowed.

One Lap of the Web: BMW M3 gets color-corrected, a gentleman's GT-R and the Porsche 959

We spend a lot of time on the Internet -- pretty much whenever we're not driving, writing about or working on cars. Since there's more out there than we'd ever be able to cover, here's our daily digest of car stuff on the Web you may not otherwise have heard about. -- Oh dear, BMW: Perhaps you shouldn't have made two M3 color selections sound so similar?