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

Ascari supercars

By Ben Oliver 28 July 2008 13:18 Ascari is a newcomer to the supercar stable – and has a cosmopolitan flavour shot through its whole DNA. The company is owned by a Dutchman, the cars are built in England and they own their own race track in Spain. And the name?

Smart Forspeed concept signals new design direction

Smart will unveil a new concept at the forthcoming Geneva motor show that signals a new design direction, hints at future product and confirms parent company Daimler's renewed commitment to the brand. Car Design News was granted early access to the concept, baptized Forspeed, at a secret photography studio in Stuttgart last week and heard the head of advanced design, Steffen Kohl, explain how the two-seat, electric-powered vehicle prefaces design themes in both the next Fortwo and the revived Forfour, which will be launched in 2014. "The fullness of this concept's exterior surfaces is important and will be reflected in future production models," said Kohl, "Smart will still be short, spacey, agile, and with wheels at the corners of the car, but with an added sporty and emotional design and without losing all the brand's iconic elements like its ‘plastic fantastic' aspect and the safe and hi-tech modular tridion shell assembled with all these changeable body parts.

Hyundai HED-4 concept

4x4's have become for many shorthand for the cause of climate change, demonised as emblems of irresponsibility. To launch one that pats the environment on the back rather than stamping all over it in neutral, ergo pure, Switzerland is therefore a welcome repost to typical media hysteria. So alongside the unveiling of their new C-segment rival, the FD, Hyundai will present the latest example of their advanced vehicle research, the HED-4 concept.