1948-54 Packard Interior Door Handles. Four. on 2040-parts.com

One Lap of the Web: Aston Martin Works, 'Gran Turismo' movie and the Mercedes-Benz S-class build process

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. -- Along with the “Need for Speed” franchise, the “Gran Turismo” series may be the latest in line to make the leap to the big screen.

Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars will unveil its new Phantom Drophead Coupe at the Detroit Auto Show on Sunday 7 January. A number of features first seen on 100EX, the experimental concept shown by Rolls-Royce in 2004, have been engineered into the new Phantom Drophead Coupe. Two of the most visually striking of these are the brushed steel bonnet and A-pillar and the teak decking for the rear hood cover.

Ford promote accessible & affordable technology in new campaign

Ford’s Active Park Assist parks a Focus on the roof of a skyscraper We do sometimes moan that cars are becoming so clever that it won’t be long before the driver’s just the blobby thing behind the wheel to keep an eye open as clever technology does its stuff. That said, modern technology is certainly doing wonders for tasks that many find irksome and difficult behind the wheel, and Ford are cleverly tapping in to their new technology to demonstrate just how helpful their new cars now are for the stressed driver with the Ford Primary Brand campaign. Ford‘s new Primary Brand campaign is focusing on technology like the new(ish) Active Park Assist that uses sensors to measure parking spaces as you drive by (not too quickly – you have to give it a chance) and then, at the push of a button – with the driver just following instructions for brake, gears and accelerator – neatly parks your new Ford for you.