2008 Joyner Sand Viper on 2040-parts.com

LA Auto Show Design Challenge entries unveiled

The 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show Design Challenge entries have been revealed a few days before the show is set to open. As in previous years, several of the major players in the automotive design world are participating and automakers and design studios such as BMW DesignworksUSA, Subaru, Mazda, and China's SAIC and Changfeng will be exhibiting concept art. The theme of this year's design challenge is called "Biomimicry & Mobility 2025: Nature's Answer to Human Challenges.” With nature coming to be seen as one of the best R&D labs for design, and with biological knowledge doubling every five years, design studios were challenged to design vehicles that use biomimicry to increase the efficiency of mobility itself.

Lamborghini Veneno: Official

The Lamborghini Veneno, a limited run Aventador LP700-4, has been officially revealed by Lamborghini with dramatic styling and 740bhp. Lamborghini tell us that all three Venenos have already been sold – at a hefty £3.12 million, no less – and the Veneno is more a street-legal track car than just a titivated Aventador. The body of the Veneno – which is named after a particularly ’Venomous’ fighting bull – is crafted from carbon fibre and is designed to achieve optimal aerodynamics with the front splitter, rear diffuser, huge rear wing and a big fin running down the middle of the roof all conspiring to make the Veneno more aerodynamic than its Aventador sibling.

Mercedes promotes marketing executive to steer U.S. sales

Mercedes-Benz USA will promote marketing chief Stephen Cannon to CEO, effective Jan. 1. Cannon, 50, has been vice president of marketing for Mercedes-Benz USA since June 2007.