1969 Mustang Splash Shields on 2040-parts.com

McLaren 12C Spider gets topless, goes sideways

McLaren has released a glossy launch video to accompany the release of the new 12C Spider supercar. It looks as if the boys and girls from Woking are determined to destroy the reputation for anodyne, 'boring' supercars at McLaren, given that the 12C Spider spends most of its time going very sideways in this clip. Then again, given the 12C Spider's hardware, it's not hard to see why it's such a lairy beast when off the leash.

Hands-free car phones 'should be banned'

THE USE hands-free mobile phones while driving should be banned. This is the view of road safety charity Brake that says four in ten drivers (38%) admit to using hands-free phones in the car despite research that shows talking on a hands-free system is just as dangerous as using a hand-held mobile phone. Drivers who use a mobile phone while driving are four times more likely to be involved in a collision that causes serious or fatal injuries.

CES 2011 opens in Las Vegas

The pace of development in the world of consumer electronics – particularly touchscreens, smartphones and tablet devices – is increasingly influential on the world of automotive design. So with the world's biggest electronics trade show, the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), opening today in Las Vegas, we thought it high time for Car Design News to attend.  The 2011 show has a strong automotive flavor, more so than in any previous year. CES was the event at which Ford chose to launch its industry leading in-car connectivity feature, Sync, in 2008 and, for the third year running, Ford CEO Alan Mulally will deliver a keynote address, during which he is expected to unveil Ford's Nissan Leaf-rivaling, electric-powered Focus.