Arias Pistons 12.5:1 Compression 82mm Bore Honda B-series on 2040-parts.com

The Future Role of the Vehicle Designer

The vehicle design department at the Royal College of Art hosted the second in a series of five lectures looking at the future of the profession last week. Moving on from the previous week's topic of sustainability, this debate explored the future roles and responsibilities of the vehicle designer. Head of department Dale Harrow began by posing the question "Is it time to rethink – do we still need the car?" Although still relevant, Harrow's ultimate answer to this was that the profession was about to see marked change, with the end to an era where "designers are locked behind closed doors in studios".

Button wins in Istanbul

Jenson Button wins the Turkish Grand Prix in Istanbul for Brawn GP Contrary to recent form, Button failed by a whisker to take pole position in Q3 qualifying yesterday, having to cede that to Sebastian Vettel in the Red Bull. But second is still a good place to start, and Jenson signalled his intentions on the start line by sitting in his Brawn at a slight angle, looking for all the world as if he intended driving straight across Vettel from the start. That plan didn”t work, but it was Vettel and Button who pulled away from the pack at the start and, on turn nine, Vettel wilted under pressure, went wide and Button took the lead, to drive flawlessly to the end to claim 10 points and first place.

BMW shows off first F30 335i racing machine

When one's thoughts get to meandering and said meanderings lead to Bavarian racing machines, BMW's M cars are often first to mind. But the first race car built on BMW's new F30 bones is actually a 335i. Given that the new car's stock turbo six cranks out power similar to that of the naturally aspirated screamer in the 2001-06 E46 M3, building a dedicated rennsport machine from a non-M 3-series doesn't seem like the great loss of opportunity it once could've been.