2012 12 Honda Civic Power Heated Mirror Driver Side Left Lh L on 2040-parts.com

Scion considers moving upscale

Toyota's struggling Scion brand may move upscale to challenge entry-level luxury models coming from European automakers. The new lower-luxury niche includes Mini, the front-wheel-drive Mercedes-Benz CLA arriving this fall and Audi's compact A3 sedan shown last week on the eve of the New York auto show. Scion has gone after young entry-level buyers since its inception 10 years ago but has lost its early momentum.

Peter Stevens and Julian Thomson lead a discussion on the past, present and future of car design

As part of its sponsorship of London's Clerkenwell Design Week, Jaguar and the Royal College of Art brought together three generations of the design school to discuss the past, present and possible future of car design. Held in a suitably grimy warehouse in east London – with the sculpture by RCA students Ewan Gallimore and Claire Mille's we showed you earlier this week sat outside – Professor Dale Harrow, dean of the School of Design and head of its Vehicle Design program introduced Professor Peter Stevens, Julian Thomson, Jaguar's advanced design director and Alexandra Palmowski project designer advanced colour and material at Jaguar took the audience through their careers. Charismatic as ever, Peter Stevens kicked off proceedings that moved chronologically through the decades by explaining how he first became interested in "the art if car design, allied to the science of how they work" through his artistic parents and uncle – journalist and motoring adventurer – Denis Jenkinson during the 1950s and 60s.

2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed Preview: A Jaguar-fest

Yasmin Le Bon and the original E-Type Roadster at Goodwood FoS Preview It’s a cold, wet and miserable day and feels more like November than March. So it’s hard to think in terms of the sun shining on the Goodwood Estate, and cars roaring up the Hillclimb, as you stand with a cold beer in hand and soak up the atmosphere. But despite the weather it’s time for Goodwood to present to the 2011 Festival of Speed to the press, and yesterday’s preview turned in to something of a Jaguar spectacular.