2003 Ford Explorer Front Door Left 2289718 on 2040-parts.com

Freeman Thomas: “it's easier to create your own rocket than create your own car”

The Industrial Designers Society of America's ‘Designing Innovation' panel discussion took place in San Francisco yesterday. The event was sponsored by Ford, with strategic design director, Freeman Thomas taking a place on the panel. Having parked a C-MAX Energi and new F-150 in the venue, Ford's influence weighed rather heavily, particularly in the early moments.

Subaru XV concept

Following the teaser shot we brought you on April 15, Subaru has now revealed the XV concept, a design study that blends ‘exceptional SUV practicality with a fashionable form', according to the company. Designers at Subaru's studios in Japan created the concept around the design keyword ‘Protren' a combination of ‘Professional tool' and ‘Trendy design'. It expresses the integration of "authentic functionality as a professional tool" and "urban and stylish design".

Bonhams' Greenwich auction will show Italian rarities

The biggest star of Bonhams' seventh annual Greenwich auction will be the 1975 Lamborghini Countach LP400 Periscopica shown above, a pristine early example of the legendary wedge with a single owner and less than 10,500 miles -- its roof carried a groove cut into the sheetmetal that allowed light to hit the rearview mirror, providing a still-laughable semblance of rearward visibility. Of course, the door is always preferable. Just 158 LP400 Countachs were ever produced, before the firm moved on in 1978 to the outrageously styled LP400S.