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

2009 Interior Motives Design Awards

Registration for the seventh annual Interior Motives Design Awards - themed ‘Sustainable and Clever' - is now open. Hosted by our quarterly interior design publication Interior Motives, the competition challenges design students around the world to come up with innovative designs that offer clever solutions to the problems facing 21st century vehicle design. Students are asked to create a design that fulfils one of the following four briefs: Chinese car 2.0 Create a next-generation vehicle designed specifically to serve the needs of young, design-aware Chinese consumers.

Germany plans to charge foreigners to drive on the Autobahn

Germany plans to charge foreigners to drive on the Autobahn It seems Germany is planning to charge to use the Autobahn network – just as France does – but it plans to levy the charge just on foreign visitors. The plan is part of a deal by Angela Merkel’s Social Democrat party to form a new coalition and would see all non-German drivers paying a fixed toll to use the Autobahns. But the plan is coming under fire from neighbouring countries (Germany has borders with nine other countries) and even from its own version of the AA – the ADAC – who say the revenue likely to be raised – around £220 million – will do little to address the costs.

ZAP electric car

California-based ZAP has completed the initial concept phase for a new electric vehicle claimed to hit a top speed in excess of 100 mph with a range of 100 miles per charge.  "With ZAP's experience over the past 12 years and the groundwork we have already laid, we know that electricity is the future of the auto industry," said ZAP CEO Steve Schneider.  "At the same time, we believe we have a design that will serve a niche no other manufacturer in the auto industry is seeking to fill." More details of the car will become available at the end of the month.