1989-1994 Suzuki Swift Hatchback Front Grille Honeycomb Frame Insert Plastic H/b on 2040-parts.com

Dassault Systèmes and Riversimple partner for eCar Design Contest

Dassault Systèmes, in collaboration with Riversimple and the 40 Fires foundation, launched their eCar Design Contest recently, designed to encourage cooperation and the development of ideas on an open source platform. The companies had been in talks for some time regarding a joint project and this competition – a completely holistic, closed-loop approach to the building, sale and use of a car – is the result of their successful collaboration. Christopher Reitz, head designer at Riversimple, says, "The open source platform is a fantastic tool.

One Lap of the Web: Panteras, Battlebirds and Patrick Dempsey's entrepreneurial brilliance

We spend a lot of time on the Internet -- pretty much whenever we're not driving, writing about or working on cars. Since there's more out there than we'd ever be able to cover, here's our daily digest of car stuff on the Web you may not otherwise have heard about. -- Sure, later versions of the De Tomaso Pantera looked a bit outrageous with their wide fenders and Countach-like spoilers.

McLaren Qualified launched for Approved Used McLarens

But it’s been a long time since McLaren actually built a road car – the McLaren F1 – and that car wasn’t exactly mainstream, so there was no real dealer network or support for used McLarens. Well, there was, but it doesn’t translate in a to real production models as it involved sending your car back to Woking for service or McLaren finding a buyer for your F1 (for a commission). So McLaren has built up a dealer network and now it’s decided it’s time to launch a ‘McLaren Approved’ programme for used McLarens - McLaren Qualified – which involves McLaren taking used 12Cs and giving them a bumper-to-bumper qualification check, fitting any upgrades the car needs and bolting on a minimum two year unlimited mileage warranty and McLaren Roadside Assistance.