1999 Toyota Camry Door Latch Driver Left Front 2483705 on 2040-parts.com

Michelin Challenge Design 2007: The not so ugly truth about rising vehicle safety standards

Can cars be safe and beautiful at the same time? That may not have been the case a few decades ago when automakers were forced to hang those big, ugly so-called federal bumpers off the ends of their vehicles.  With vehicle safety standards on the rise around the globe are designers today feeling a little '70s deja vu when it comes to meeting the challenges of making cars safe as well as more fuel efficient? "(Back then) we said it was the end of automotive styling," says Patrick Le Quement, senior vice president for corporate design at Renault and one of the world's most influential automotive designers.

2014 Porsche Panamera V6 Diesel Facelift gets more power

The 2014 Porsche Panamera V6 Diesel Facelift (pictured) gets more power When Porsche revealed the facelift for the Panamera in April, we commented that we could expect a new V6 diesel to arrive in the Panamera for 2014 with around 300bhp. And here it is. The new Porsche Panamera V6 diesel gets the same tweaks to bumpers and lights as the rest of the range – and modest though they are, they do make the Panamera look a little less bulbous – but the most appealing news is a bit more oomph from Porsche’s entry-level diesel Panamera.

Ford Evos Concept joins Salon Privé lineup

The 2011 Ford Evos Concept has become the latest model to join this year's Salon Privé. Held from 4-6 September, the Evos will feaure in the Concepts and Prototypes Display at the West London event, due to be held on the lawns of Syon House. When it was unveiled, the Evos Concept showcased Ford's global design language and vision for customer-focused intuitive technologies.