2013-2015 Audi Q5 2.0l - Transmission Valve Body / Mechatronic 8r1927158c on 2040-parts.com

Art Center BMW/Exa project

There's a new sponsored project that is just getting under way at Art Center College of Design, the likes of which hasn't been seen in a very long time - if at all. The school's Transportation Design department has helped bring together BMW with Exa Corporation, a Boston-based virtual aerodynamic simulation company, and has tasked the students to re-design the current BMW X5 Sports Activity Vehicle with the hope of dramatically increasing its aerodynamic efficiency while still retaining the BMW flagship SAV design language. This brief is quite timely in the context of the industry's ongoing focus with sustainability and strikes at the core of the BMW Group's long term energy strategy known as the concept of Efficient Dynamics.

Toyota GT86 Convertible spied in South Africa

Ahead of a reveal of a concept version of the Toyota GT86 Convertible at the Geneva Motor Show, the soft-top GT86 has been spied Almost a year ago we learned that a Toyota GT86 Convertible was in the planning after Toyota’s chief engineer, Tetsuya Tada, revealed that the GT86 (and therefore the Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ) were designed to be a convertible from the start. Shortly after that revelation, we saw the first glimpse of a future GT86 Convertible in the shape of the Scion FR-S Speedster at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, an officially sanctioned speedster version of the GT86 created by Iacona Design and Cartel Customs. Most recently, Toyota revealed that they are taking the  the FT-86 Open Concept to next month’s Geneva Motor Show, a car that looks to preview an almost production-ready GT86 Convertible, which could arrive in production guise before the end of 2013.

New Mercedes V-Class MPV revealed

The new Mercedes V-Class MPV (pictured) offers a more car-like experience The new Mercedes V-Class is the replacement for the Mercedes Viano, and Mercedes hope potential buyers will view it as a luxury MPV with proper Mercedes passenger car appeal but with room for up to eight passengers. It seems likely Mercedes are also hoping the new V-Class will attract former buyers of the now defunct R-Class, families who’ve outgrown a family car and business users too. If you can get over looks that still say ‘Van with Windows’ despite a complete makeover from the Viano (although the Viano Vision Diamond offered a very upmarket look and fittings), Mercedes should be in with a fighting chance of hitting the mark with the new V-Class.