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

Contest: Volkswagen Slipstream wins 2007 LA Design Challenge

Volkswagen's Slipstream concept has won the fourth annual Design Challenge competition, part of the Design Los Angeles automobile designer's conference. The award was presented during the second press day of the 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show.  The theme of this year's competition, RoboCar of 2057, asked eight automotive design studios in California to form their vision of the future by depicting a vehicle that incorporates artificial intelligence engineered to make life easier and more attractive to consumers 50 years from now. Designers entered two-dimensional renderings and concept descriptions predicting how the rapidly advancing field of artificial intelligence will integrate into the automobile to make life safer, more practical and attractive, and the entries were judged by multi-discipline design professionals who selected the winner based on its originality of creative concept, integration of robotics and level of adaptation to a variety of environmental conditions and consumer needs.

Volvo XC90 loses two-tone body, adds more options for 2013

Volvo refreshed its XC90 SUV for the 2013 model year. The Swedish automaker says it's the most significant update since the vehicle's debut a decade ago. At the top of the list--for us anyway--is the deletion of the lower body cladding.

2012 Acura TSX Special Edition aimed at the younger generation

Acura is continuing the celebration of its 25th anniversary by creating a special-edition TSX with a slant toward the track. It doesn't add any power, unfortunately, but it does attach the bits that look the part. The 2012 TSX Special Edition package comes with a more aggressive front spoiler, a new bumper fascia, unique side sills and special-edition badges on the trunk.