1987 Jeep Cherokee Xj Emblem/badge 84-96 on 2040-parts.com

AMG plans greener, cleaner performance cars

By Ben Whitworth Motor Industry 08 October 2008 08:00 AMG is going green – the maker of unfeasibly fast Mercedes-Benz models is gearing up for hybrid and diesel versions, using advanced low-weight materials to retain their tyre-smoking performance credentials while satisfying the nagging greener conscience. In an exclusive CAR interview, Aufrecht Melcher Großaspach boss Volker Mornhinweg spoke candidly about the company’s future and outlined why a raft of imminent eco measures would enhance AMG’s performance capabilities rather than stifle them. ‘Of course emissions and economy are important to us at AMG – only a fool would ignore these factors today,’ said Mornhinweg (pictured).

New VW Golf GTD: Price from £25,285

At £25,285 the new Golf GTD – revealed at the Geneva Motor Show last month – is just £310 more than the old model despite an increase in equipment and performance and a better specification. Looking pretty much how you’d expect a GTI Diesel to look, the GTD gets smoked LED rear lights, bi-xenons with LED running lights, two chrome tailpipes, 18″ Nogaro alloys and the slightly butch body kt which includes side skirts, butch bumpers and a roof spoiler. Inside is ‘GTI’ too with tartan trim, black roof lining, sports steering wheel and GTD-specific trim for the gear lever, trim strips and instrument cluster.

Design Services: Car Menu launched

Within almost every automotive design department throughout the world, their comes a time when a junior designer is dispatched to find a picture of some new model's tail lamp, the side view of a particular class leading competitor or examples of several new cars' colour and trim packages. Whilst looking at the competition is not necessarily a healthy way of finding ideas, it is often essential to demonstrate what is feasible, check in-house proposals are not too derivative, or show how advanced a design theme is relative to the same type of cars on the market. But even if the particular aspect of a car can be found, press packs and magazines typically show cars in the flattering light of an exotic location or being drifted around a corner on opposite lock; rarely are these images particularly useful.