2007 Ferrari F430 Vacuum Accumulator Tank / Control Valves #1338 L2 on 2040-parts.com

Syd Mead's 'Progressions' exhibition featured on CarArt.us

CarArt.us, the largest online automotive art gallery, is featuring art from world-renowned futurist Syd Mead's 50-piece ‘Progressions' exhibit, a retrospective spanning more than 50 years. Mead's work is shown in chronological order, starting from 1957's Bugatti concept and tracking his progression all the way up to 2010's Megacoach. Highly influential futurist Mead graduated with distinction from the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles in 1959, beginning his career at Ford's Advanced Styling Studio in Dearborn, Michigan, before establishing Syd Mead, Inc.

Volkswagen Nils concept

Volkswagen will give its newest concept vehicle, named Nils, its public debut at the 2011 Frankfurt motor show. The single-seat electric concept vehicle, which has been designed to be economical and production feasible, features an aluminium space frame, wing doors and free-standing wheels. Though its inspiration may come from Formula 1, the styling has its origins at the Volkswagen Design Centre in Potsdam, Berlin.

Opel/Vauxhall teases Cascada mid-size convertible

Opel/Vauxhall has given us a sneak peek of its new mid-size convertible, the Cascanda, which effectively replaces the Astra Twin Top. The Cascanda features a full-size fabric roof that can be opened or closed with one button up to speeds of 30mph and is the latest model to shun a folding hardtop in favor of the lighter and more practical soft option. The company claims this is its first D-segment cabrio for more than 70 years but, unlike them, we haven't forgotten the Cavialier Convertible of the 1980s (see pic).