Bd Diesel 1047005 Turbine Housing on 2040-parts.com

Relive Volvo's 'Emotion of Design' Google Hangout

If you missed out on Volvo's ‘Emotion of Design' Google Hangout, which was broadcast on Volvo's YouTube channel on 28 November, you can relive it here. The Hangout, which featured Volvo's exterior design chief Maximilian Missoni, neuropsychologist Dr David Lewis and Wallpaper magazine's automotive correspondent Jonathan Bell, discussed the results of the Swedish carmaker's experiment to measure the emotional response to the Volvo Concept Coupé – among other things – using an electroencephalographic (EEG) machine. Participants were asked to rate a series of images while wearing an EEG headset measuring brainwave activity, with results showing that car design and emotions were inexorably linked.

2014 VW Passat Executive and Executive Style revealed

2014 VW Passat Executive and Executive Style revealed Volkswagen has decided that buyers of the Passat – not exactly the best-selling car in the VW range – want some extra toys on their new Passat, so they’re introducing two new trim levels for 2014. The new trim levels – executive and Executive Style – sit above the entry-level Passat S and BlueMotion and bring extra goodies for not a lot more money than the Highline trim it replaces. The Passat executive comes with 17″ Michigan alloys, extra chrome, matt black roof rails (on the Estate), VW’s RNS 315 touchscreen SatNav, Vienna leather, heated front seats, electric driver’s seat, Climate, auto lights and wipers, Cruise and rear parking sensors.

UK car production tops 1.5 million

THE NUMBER of cars built in the UK topped 1.5 million last year, the highest for six years, amid what's being called "surging" demand at home and abroad. Production increased by 3.1% in 2013, with analysts predicting that output would reach record levels of around two million by 2017. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said the UK was set to become the third largest car manufacturer in Europe after Germany and Spain.