1979-1984 Volkswagen Rabbit Wheel Cover Set on 2040-parts.com

From 'Made in China' to 'Designed in China'

Visitors to the recent Auto China in Beijing may have noticed an impressive new Chinese sports car – called Aculeus – on one of the smaller exhibitor stands. The concept car is the latest project undertaken by CH-Auto Technology Corporation – one of a growing number of automotive R&D service companies based in China that provides support to the OEMs. The company was established in August 2003 by Lu Qun, an engineer who originally trained at Tsinghua University and later specialized in engine development testing.

Mitsubishi RVR Crossover (2010 / 2011) revealed

The new Mitsubishi RVR Crossover will launch in 2010 When you think of Mitsubishi you either think of big SUVs like the Shogun or you think of slightly bonkers performance cars like the Evo. But in these strange, ‘Green’ times that doesn’t sit well with the public (or at least with car makers perception of what the public think) so car makers are looking to re-align their image. BMW has gone from the ‘Ultimate Driving Machine’ to ‘Joy’, and Mitsubishi wants us to think of it as a maker of fluffy-bunnie, eco-cars that do everything the buyer wants, but eat CO2 for breakfast and run on fresh air.

Insurance group lists its Top Safety Picks

After increasing its standards for 2011 models, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says that 66 vehicles--more than double the 2010 total--rate as best in the industry at protecting passengers from front, side, rollover and rear crashes. Only 27 vehicles qualified last year after the group, funded by the insurance industry, required that vehicles pass a roof-strength test to earn a good rating, claiming that stronger roofs would reduce the risk of serious or fatal injury by 50 percent in a rollover accident. The most mentioned carmakers on the 2011 list are Hyundai/Kia and Volkswagen/Audi, both with nine vehicles to get the Top Safety Pick designation.