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

CDR Insight Quarterly – Q1 2013

Car Design Research Insight Quarterly – Q1 2013 Independent consultancy, Car Design Research's 'Insight Quarterly' looks at the latest trends in the automotive design world and beyond, four times each year. Currently distributed to a handful of their design contacts in the industry, we'll be running these quarterlies to highlight the latest trends and insights from a firm who work regularly and closely with the design groups of many major OEMs. In this year's first Insight Quarterly, the team highlight the notion of 'designing for export'.

BMW i3 EV will cost from £30,680 – less than we expected

The new BMW i3 EV (teased above) will costs from £30k The new BMW i3 electric City Car is due to be revealed in production guise on 29th July, ahead of which BMW has revealed it will cost from £30,680 – meaning a showroom sticker price of £25,680 after the EV taxpayer ‘grant’. That price is for the pure EV i3 – not the range-extender – which comes with a rear mounted 168bhp electric motor, a top speed of 93mph and a range (in ideal conditions) of around 80 miles between charges. At a retail price of £25k, the i3 compares favourably with other EVs like the Nissan LEAF, which costs from £21k, and the Chevy Volt at £30k (although that is a range extender).

Ferrari-designed Santa's sleigh (2010)

Ferrari is used to building high-speed sports cars, but now it's undertaken a far more difficult design study: building the Ferrari sleigh for Father Christmas. Penned by the design team in Maranello led by Flavio Manzoni, the Ferrari supercar sleigh is said to use many of the design principles which underpin its roadgoing supercars such as the 458 Italia and California. It’s a lightweight sledge with the iconic Prancing Horse depicted on its flanks and racing numerals on the door panels.