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

Mini Vision concept: what does it say about the brand's future?

The sight of Mini design head Anders Warming presenting a holographic, 3D projection of the Mini Vision concept as if appearing in his own cartoon was certainly a new one on us, but it captured the quirky, slightly left-field image the subsidiary of BMW Group has cultivated since its relaunch 13 years ago. As the 'Vision' tag suggests, this is billed as a marker of intent for the brand's future design direction rather than a pre-production teaser of the new Mini hatchback (Cooper in most markets) we'll see later this year. However if the third-generation 'new' Mini doesn't look remarkably similar we'd be amazed, such is the level of productionized detailing on this purely digital model.

PPG Design Challenge

Global supplier PPG Industries presented its Design Challenge awards at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show in January. The annual automotive glass design competition called for students to design a vehicle for a 20-something male named Matt - a recent college graduate beginning his career - whose vehicle needed to be image-enhancing and reliable. Taking inspiration from golf, bamboo charcoal and catamaran boats, 26 transportation design sophomores presented concepts that demonstrated the versatility of glass in providing unique styling as well as utility, comfort and convenience.

Supercar Sunday is a high-octane breakfast treat in Southern California

WITH VIDEO -- There's always something cool to see at Supercar Sunday, usually a few hundred cool things to see. "[It's] the perfect way to spend a Sunday morning," collector Bruce Meyer said, driving up in his '32 Ford. "Get out early, enjoy the morning, get back before the family knows you're gone." It's one of a handful of casual, early morning weekend shows in Southern California that are worth getting up for before breakfast.