2004-2005-2006 Suzuki Verona Woodgrain Dash Ashtray Console Assy on 2040-parts.com

Driven: Volkswagen Golf Mk7

Walking up to the seventh-generation VW Golf, redesigned flip key in hand, you're in no doubt that this is a) new or – perhaps more importantly – b) a Golf. It's the "200 meter test" lead exterior designer, Andreas Mindt tells us and, while we're suspicious of the idea of self-conscious ‘iconic design', you have to concede he's right. In fact the Mk7 Golf's pared-back graphics and a return to a true two-box proportion create a more accurate vision of what we imagine when we think ‘Volkswagen Golf' than either of its two most recent predecessors.

Alcraft and RCA announce design competition winner

Alcraft Motor Company has announced the winner of a design competition featuring students from the Royal College of Art (RCA) Vehicle Design program. The contest, which concludes a joint project exploring British design values and personalized vehicle design, challenged students to develop a personalized design package for Range Rover models. Winning student Jed Sheehan collected his award for his treatment of the flagship Range Rover, which Alcraft has transformed into a design study.

Ready-to-race Ford Focus ST-R walk-around: Video

The folks at Ford released a video Christmas present this week featuring Ford Racing's Andy Vrenko hosting a complete walk-around of the company's latest turn-key race car, the Ford Focus ST-R. The latest spec racer is approved for competition in the Grand-Am ST, World Challenge TC and the Canadian Touring Car series (pending homologation approvals). The engine and transmission are production-based components from the street-legal Focus ST.