1962 Ford Starter Motor End Plate Assembly C2az-11130-a on 2040-parts.com

First details of 2013 Skoda Octavia emerge

More details and images of the 2013 Skoda Octavia have been revealed ahead of its official announcement. The C-segment Octavia will be the fourth model to sit on the MQB platform after the Volkswagen Golf Mk7, Seat Leon and Audi A3. These images suggest the car will offer few surprises – from its familiar corporate grille to the new, sharp-edged, cut-glass inspired surfacing first seen on the Rapid this third-generation Octavia looks set to build on its solid and loyal customer base.

Jaguar F-Type fleet in Union Jack livery promote ‘Best of British’

A fleet of ‘Union Jack’ Jaguar F-Types (pictured) are touring the UK It all started with Top Gear’s ‘Best of British’ line-up of all things British Automotive on the Mall back in June, which aired a week ago as the finale to Series 20 of Top Gear. That piece was put together on the back of Top Gear’s testing of the new Range Rover Sport and the new Jaguar F-Type, with Top Gear managing to drag all manner of motorised vehicles to the Mall to celebrate proper British success. With the Jaguar F-Types sitting proudly at the front of the assembled ‘Best of British’, Jaguar’s PR machine wisely decided there was mileage in the whole ‘Best of British’ thing, so they’ve launched a competition with the hashtag #YourTurnBritain.

Reproducing reality – X-Rite’s Total Appearance Capture

Total Appearance Capture isn't some sinister new form of identity theft but a revolutionary method of digitizing physical models using a new scanning technology, with the ability to capture extraordinary detail and all input and output light. The system, from coatings color measurement experts X-Rite, combines color, texture, gloss and other surface characteristics into a digital material ‘description' that can be imported directly to computer-aided design programs. What sets it apart from previously available methods is its ability to collect information on complex materials such as textiles, leather, basketwork, stone, coatings and plated finishes, in a 3D scene lit by a virtual studio environment.