1967-69 Plymouth Barracuda Interior Trim on 2040-parts.com

Royal College of Art and SABIC collaborate on new ‘VISIcON’ program and design competition

The Royal of Art and chemicals manufacturer SABIC has announced the launch of a three-month research program and competition called 'VISIcON'. Over 30 post-graduate students from the college's Vehicle Design program are studying and analyzing how SABIC's thermoplastic lighting materials and LEXAN polycarbonate (PC) glazing technologies can be used practically and creatively to improve the lighting and illumination of future vehicles. VISIcON asks students from the RCA's automotive students split into three groups: the Automark group's emphasis on developing and enhancing brand identity through lighting; Urban Flow's focus directed towards discovering innovative exterior lighting; and Inside Out studio is working on improving and extending the use of light in the vehicle interior through lighting components and PC glazing.

Honda replaces Jazz ES with ES Plus – puts price up

The Honda Jazz ES Plus (pictured) replaces the old ES trim Mid-summer (if, indeed, this is summer) is not the best of times for car sales, so we get used to car makers offering enhanced specs to get punters through the door. Which is why Honda has revealed the Jazz ES Plus. Replacing the current Jazz ES, the ES Plus gets extra toys such as a set of 16″ alloys, privacy glass, cruise control, armrest for the driver and leather on the steering wheel and gear knob.

Putting the Volvo S60 Polestar Concept through its paces

Unfortunately, the Volvo S60 Polestar Concept will not be coming to a dealership near you anytime soon. It’s purely an experiment to determine if the public would be interested in 508-hp, racing-bred Volvos. Chris Harris, of Chris Harris on Cars, took a deeper look at the car on a snowy racetrack in Europe and even brought a Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG for some perspective.