2004 Kia Rio Hood Latch Holder Oem on 2040-parts.com

Chris Bangle begins work with Changan Automobile on its design strategy and methodology

Chris Bangle is to consult with Changan Automobile to help develop its design strategy and processes in his first official automotive project since leaving BMW in 2009. Bangle – through his company Chris Bangle Associates (CBA) – will work with Changan's team in its European design center in Turin, Italy, reporting to design director Chen Zheng. And while his role will be linked to the brand's Chinese products, his focus will be on the design team's methodologies and philosophy; its management and its process of critique, rather than the hands-on design of its products.

Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 (2010) first official pictures

This is the Mercedes SLS AMG GT3, a racing version of Merc's incredible Gullwing supercar. Unveiled today at the 2010 New York auto show, it'll start racing in 2011. Correct – the FIA’s GT3 races are designed for ‘near-series’ cars so costs are kept low, and there’s a burgeoning field with everything from R8s and 911s to BMW’s new Z4 racer.

BMW: Carbon fiber goes high volume in 2013

BMW AG plans to begin high-volume production of carbon fiber parts in two years, making it a strong contender to be the first automaker to move beyond limited-edition use of the exotic material. But Daimler AG, which has taken steps aimed at making carbon fiber parts in 2012, is among the automakers racing toward the same goal. In 2013, BMW will start building the i3 electric car, a vehicle that features a passenger cell--the protective shell around the passenger compartment that ensures the integrity of the vehicle in a crash--made of plastic reinforced with carbon fiber.