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

Man-made Modern Luxury Materials in Cars

Luxury, within the context of a car interior, has been closely related to the use of wood and leather for over a century. These natural materials have a familiar organic, tactile quality that are intrinsically desirable attributes for most people and, in today's mass manufactured plastic world, they also assume a luxury or premium quality. Throughout the last century, metal, leather and wood have also been progressively supplanted by bakelite, vinyl and then polymer-based plastic materials in car interiors as well.

Concept Car of the Week: GM-X Stiletto (1964)

With dreams of flying cars as the ultimate inspiration, General Motors designers in the ‘60s used every trick possible to make their creations appear as though they were floating – long, straight bodies, wheels pushed in and hidden away, large fins and lights that looked like rockets. As William L. Mitchell took the reins of GM Design, he brought a more high-tech approach, with simpler surfaces, a more restrained use of chrome and a general sense of elegant simplicity.

Korean Grand Prix (2012) RESULT

With the Red Bull of Mark Webber on pole and Sebastian Vettel alongside, could Vettel take the lead in the driver’s championship in Korea? Last year, Sebastian Vettel took the win in Seoul, and this year it’s a second place on the grid for Vettel as he strives to overtake Alonso in the race for the drivers’ championship, with Mark Webber sitting on pole. After Vettel’s display in Japan in the last race, and a clear edge over the rest of the fields in qualifying in Korea, it was no surprise to see the Red Bulls go clear from the start, with Vettel getting the jump on Webber and heading off in to the sunset for a clear win – despite a few tyre traumas near the end – with Webber riding shotgun for a solid second place.