Atp 102010 Harmonic Balancer-engine Harmonic Balancer on 2040-parts.com

BMW ready to shift small coupes, convertibles to even-number nameplates

Reports in Europe say that BMW is planning a shake-up in the naming strategy for its smaller coupes and convertibles, as well as planning to shift its 1-series cars onto a front-drive platform. The nameplate shake-up will have coupe and convertible variants of the 1-series become the 2-series, while coupe and convertible variants of the 3-series will become the 4-series. The changeover is expected to start in 2013, according to a report on the Web site of Car magazine.

2012 Audi A3 Debuts: Geneva 2012

New Audi A3 arrives at Geneva The all new Audi A3 has debuted at Geneva as a 3 door looking just like the current A3 – but it’s completely new. The 2012 Audi A3 has arrived at Geneva 2012, and it looks like the VW Group is starting to learn from Porsche’s designers; the new A3 is a new car but, unless you look hard, it could be the old A3. Sitting on a longer wheelbase than the current A3, which promises more room inside, and a bit wider too, the new A3 gets Audi’s square-cornered frill with large air intakes and the now familiar Audi headlights with LED running lights.

LA Auto Show Design Challenge entries unveiled

The 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show Design Challenge entries have been revealed a few days before the show is set to open. As in previous years, several of the major players in the automotive design world are participating and automakers and design studios such as BMW DesignworksUSA, Subaru, Mazda, and China's SAIC and Changfeng will be exhibiting concept art. The theme of this year's design challenge is called "Biomimicry & Mobility 2025: Nature's Answer to Human Challenges.” With nature coming to be seen as one of the best R&D labs for design, and with biological knowledge doubling every five years, design studios were challenged to design vehicles that use biomimicry to increase the efficiency of mobility itself.