1947-1953 Chevy/gmc Rat Rod Cab on 2040-parts.com

Hyundai i10 facelift (2011) first official pictures

Hyundai today showed off the new i10 city car - one of the most popular small cars in the UK during last year's scrappage incentive scheme. As well as a cosmetic pick-me-up, the new 2011 Hyundai i10 gains a pair of new engines with stop-start tech for emissions nudging just under the magic 100g/km CO2 mark.  The Hyundai i10 Blue emits 99g/km of carbon dioxide, and the Koreans claim it's the cheapest five-seat car on the market to hit sub 100g/km. Five seats?

Magna Electronics develops 'Touchskin' concept [w/video]

Electronics firm Magna is working on a new technology it calls 'Touchskin concept' that has the potential to eliminate traditional switches and instruments inside vehicles. As part of its ‘Intelligent Surface Technology', the Touchskin concept is set to be an integral part of a system that allows the user to control the car via intuitive gestures – such as pinching, tapping and swiping – as we've become so familiar with when using smartphones. The potential design implications are easy to see with the large amount of space made available by removing the traditional instrument cluster and its wiring and the removal of wired-in switches and buttons.

Miko's high performance material with an ecological edge

Italian company Miko specializes in the development and production of Dinamica, a high quality ecological microfiber that can be used for anything from car door panels or upholstery to fashion accessories. The faux suede material is produced from a combination of recycled polyester and polyurethane fibers, and is also 100 percent recyclable at the end of its lifecycle. Lorenzo Terraneo, CEO of Miko, says: "Our priority has always been to invest in the research and development of recycled and eco-compatible materials with special characteristics that go far beyond existing qualitative standards." It is a testament to Terraneo's commitment that his company achieved its early aspirations and eco credentials long before concern for the environment and the reduction of carbon emissions was high on the political agenda or prevalent in the public conscience.