1988 Toyota Corolla All-trac Owner's Manual 01999-12490 on 2040-parts.com

Q by Aston Martin – wonder where they got that name from?

Q by Aston Martin - whatever you want Aston Martin has revealed a new customisation programme for their cars – Q by Aston Martin – which debuts at Geneva. Q by Aston Martin is AML’s latest ploy to garner more revenue from their cars, and is said to bring together Aston Martin designers, engineers and craftsmen (and women, no doubt) to offer buyers of Aston Martins the ultimate choice in personalisation and customisation. The photos of some of the possibilities Aston Martin sent us do show the sort of modifications we would often take the michael out of.

Mini crossover to carry base price of $22,350

Mini's new Countryman crossover will start at $22,350, only $550 more than the three-door Clubman wagon. A well-equipped Countryman in a Cooper S trim with optional all-wheel drive will cost just under $30,000, Jim McDowell, head of Mini USA, said Wednesday during the media launch for the vehicle. The prices include destination charges, Mini said.

New techniques cut cost of carbon fiber

Carbon fiber, once so costly that it was the preferred material only for fighter planes and supercars, is catching the attention of weight-conscious automakers. Carbon fiber's cost is falling dramatically, thanks to production advances that let suppliers speed the material's finicky, and costly, curing process. One technological breakthrough that makes carbon-fiber auto parts more affordable may come from a process used to make carbon-fiber golf clubs.