90 Skidoo Formula 467 Lt Left Cylinder X3 on 2040-parts.com

2014 European Car of the Year shortlist announced

Established in 1964, the European Car of the Year award was set up to celebrate a “single, decisive winner” each year among all new cars in Europe. So, now running into its fiftieth year, the shortlist for the landmark half-century award for the European Car of the Year 2014 has been announced. The seven runners and riders boast among them an interesting and varied mix of bodystyles, shapes, sizes and even powertrains.

Toyota's global design chief Tokuo Fukuichi appointed president of Lexus

Toyota's global design chief Tokuo Fukuichi will be the first designer to sit on the company's board of directors when his appointment comes into effect on 1 April. Fukuichi will retain his position as global head of design for the Toyota, Lexus and Scion brands and will join the board after the general shareholders' meeting. His influence on Toyota's design direction over the last few years has been noticeable, particularly with Lexus, as the company strives to make its traditionally very conservative products a little more exciting.

Volvo XC40 spotted undisguised in Norway

The Volvo XC40 – the compact SUV / Crossover version of the new Volvo V40 – has been spotted undisguised in Norway ahead of a Paris Motor Show debut. We’ve been hearing for some time that the Volvo XC40 – the latest addition to Volvo’s SUV range and based on the new V40 – is getting close to a public debut, and back in April we reported that the XC40 would, in all probability, arrive at the Paris Motor Show in September. That prediction on the XC40′s fairly imminent arrival has been given additional credence with the first shots of the new Volvo XC40 taken on what appears to be a photo / video shoot on closed roads in Norway – perhaps the debut video for the XC40 in the making?