McLaren launches P1 'Designing by Air' online experience

McLaren has developed a new online experience, 'Designed by Air' to tell the story of the car's design and development. Designed by Air is the first of a two-part series and gives users the chance to hear in detail how the car was created, as the car appears from raw metallic and carbon elements and is crafted by airflow. The P1 is eventually formed inside a wind tunnel, designed to emphasize the car's aerodynamic qualities.

Win tickets to Rockingham's Mini 50th bash

By Ben Pulman Competitions 20 March 2009 09:30 The Mini will be 50 this year, and to celebrate Rockingham race circuit will hold a fantastic weekend of celebrations. On 18 and 19 April 2009, the Northamptonshire circuit will host the UK’s longest running single-make formula, the Mini Se7en Championship, as well as the modified 1300 Mini Miglia Championship and the Mini Cooper Challenge. Also on the cards is the Dunlop Sport Maxx Cup, along with race action from TVRs, Westfields, Radicals and more.

Crunch watch Jan 09: the auto industry in crisis

By Tim Pollard, Ben Pulman and Gareth Evans Motor Industry 30 January 2009 12:39 Friday 30 January 2009• Honda is about to close the Swindon factory for four months when Friday's shifts are finished; the shutdown will affect 2500 of the 3700 staff, who will receive full pay for two months and then 60% pay for the next eight weeks (BBC News)• Porsche has announced a sharp drop in sales and likely profits. It forecasts a 27% drop in 911, Boxster, Cayman and Cayenne sales to around 34,000 units in the six months to the end of January 2009 (Financial Times, subscription required)• Ford wants Washington to do more to stimulate car sales, after posting a record loss of nearly $14.6 billion earlier this week (Detroit News)• Honda's quarterly profit has crashed by 90% – forcing the Japanese car maker to halve its annual profit target (Detroit Free Press)Thursday 29 January 2009• Ford of Europe is a bright spot in the Blue Oval's quarterly results today, making $1.06 billion pre-tax profit in 2008 (up from $997m in 2007). It's the first profit of more than $1bn since 1989 (Automotive News Europe, subscription required)• Volvo suffered a 'disastrous 2008' with a pre-tax loss of $1.46bn.