1961 62 63 Chevrolet Dogdish Hubcap on 2040-parts.com

Design Contest: LA Design Challenge 2008

The entrants for the fifth annual Design Challenge, part of the Design Los Angeles automobile designers' conference, have now been announced. Nine Southern California automotive design studios - including Audi, BMW, GM, Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota and Volkswagen - have been pitted against one another and asked to develop a concept which best answers a brief entitled 'Motorsports in 2025'. "Automotive designers have always been fascinated with motorsports and this year's Design Challenge has provided them with the opportunity to use their creative talent to look at these cars with new eyes, using innovative technologies and approaches," said Chuck Pelly, director of Design Los Angeles and partner in The Design Academy, Inc.

Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback – Paris debut

The Chevrolet Cruze Hatch - will show at Paris Chevrolet are trying hard in Europe. Last year we saw the launch of the Chevy Cruze in to Europe – before even the US got it – and we recently reported on the Chevrolet Orlando MPV which is due to debut at Paris in a few weeks. And now we get the hatchback version of the Chevy Cruze, catchily called the Chevrolet Cruze Hatch.

Audi R5, Porsche 550, VW Bluesport 'on hold'

Numerous indications are pointing to the exciting mid-engined VW, Porsche and Audi sports cars being on ice. The group had been collaborating to develop the VW Bluesport, Porsche 550 and Audi R5 - some observers had hailed the new roadsters as the Elise from Germany. Porsche doubts over the 550 But at the weekend Porsche CEO Matthias Muller told German business rag Wirtschaftswoche that he was worried a cheaper Porsche may dilute the brand's image.