98 99 00 01 Ford Explorer Front Grille Grill Chrome Eddie Bauer on 2040-parts.com

Happy 80th Birthday, Syd Mead!

Take a poll among car designers to name their greatest influence, and one name is sure to appear at the top of the list: Syd Mead. The car designer, illustrator and futurist has inspired generations of the men and women who shape the cars we drive or admire. Syd has created the designs for the movies Blade Runner and Tron, while the illustrations published in his books such as Oblagon and Sentury (sought-after collector items today) depict the vision of a future dominated by superior technology and aesthetics.

XCar tests the Jaguar F-Type R coupe in Spain

Host Alex Goy put the new hardtop Jaguar F-Type R coupe through its paces in the latest edition of XCar. Goy says the loud, red Jag was the first car he has been pulled over in during a shoot -- which must mean he’s either more restrained than we’d have guessed or just supremely lucky. The F-Type R is now the fastest Jaguar you can buy, with 543 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque on tap.

Interior Motives Conference 2012 Day 1

The annual Interior Motives China conference - this year held in Beijing to coincide with the motor show - was opened by the official Yang Shi Min. He welcomed the many delegates by acknowledging that discussion and debate will be the key element in the future of automotive design. He stated his belief that "discussion gives the opportunity for wisdom to sparkle", and opened the proceedings by encouraging all to share their wisdom with each other.