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

Middlecott Sketchbattle Experiment contest pits auto designers against Detroit talent

Local creative and design talent from outside and inside the car industry will go head-to-head in a multi-round competition for the title of Sketchmaster in the Middlecott Sketchbattle Experiment (MSBE). To be held at an underground afterparty for the Auto Show Charity Preview on 17 January at the Kunsthalle Museum in Detroit, the self-styled car design fight club will be attended by industry leaders, designers from Ford, GM, Chrysler, Toyota and Tier One suppliers. Car enthusiasts, artists and designers from around the globe will also be present.

Renault Alpine A110-50: Official & on video

Renault Alpine A110-50 - it's official The Renault Alpine A110-50 – based on the Mégane Trophy platform with a Renault DeZir body – is officially revealed. We had our doubts that the Renault Alpine A110-50 photo we published earlier this week was real, but it seems it was; which goes to show we should really lock up our scepticism more securely. And now, as promised, Renault has revealed their first Alpine in almost twenty years in the A110-50, a car that has the underpinnings of the Megane Trophy and a body that seems to owe most of its DNA to the electric Renault DeZir Concept.

Concept Car of the Week: Mazda Ibuki (2003)

With the Ibuki, Mazda designers synthesized the most successful of the first generation MX-5's iconic elements and evolved their forms to make them even more memorable and simple. To do so, they used a strong geometric theme throughout the car inside and out: LED headlamps; front air intake; tail lamps; rear view mirrors; release handles and interior details down to the pedals – every shape follow the same oval theme. Zooming out, the silhouette – as well as the top view – is also oval, making the Ibuki look more like a toy than a car, which is a real bonus for a small roadster.