1970's Ford 360-390 Fe Finned Lh Exhaust Manifold D5te-9431-b Oem Fomoco on 2040-parts.com

Middlecott Sketchbattle Experiment contest pits auto designers against Detroit talent

Local creative and design talent from outside and inside the car industry will go head-to-head in a multi-round competition for the title of Sketchmaster in the Middlecott Sketchbattle Experiment (MSBE). To be held at an underground afterparty for the Auto Show Charity Preview on 17 January at the Kunsthalle Museum in Detroit, the self-styled car design fight club will be attended by industry leaders, designers from Ford, GM, Chrysler, Toyota and Tier One suppliers. Car enthusiasts, artists and designers from around the globe will also be present.

Tunnels get F1 ace Räikkönen buzzing

FERRARI's Formula One aces Fernando Alonso and Kimi Räikkönen put pleasure before business at the Belgian Grand Prix weekend, taking to a specially-made track in a hyper-exclusive 458 Speciale in a test of driving excitement. The stars travelled down the road from the famous Spa circuit to an event hosted by Shell, Ferrari's fuels and lubricants partner, where a 1.2km circuit built for excitement had been put together, featuring a tunnel full of laser lighting, a simulated winter corner with authentic whirling snow, and an F1-style starting grid. The tunnel flicked Kimi's switch more than any other part of the track, with the telemetry showing a spike in excitement levels as he hit the power through the multi-coloured lasers and smoke.

Renault DCross concept

Renault has unveiled its new DCross concept at the Sao Paolo motor show. This C-segment SUV concept is based on the Dacia Duster and is aimed at the Brazilian market, having been designed at Renault Brazil's design studio in Sao Paolo. As with the other Brazil-focused concepts revealed at this year's show, the DCross features exaggerated wheel arches, a raised ride height and heavy underbody protection.