Bendix Scintilla Radial Engine Magneto Dln 10 10-88475-1 Pratt Whitney R2800 on 2040-parts.com

Akio Toyoda: Toyota's top car guy has a lifelong driving passion

As Akio Toyoda climbed the ranks at the automaker his grandfather had founded, many Toyota Motor Corp. managers treated the scion with kid gloves. Not Hiromu Naruse.

Videos: Volkswagen's exterior and interior designers highlight the Up's design elements

We've enjoyed the design of Volkswagen's new Up since we first saw the vehicle in concept form at the 2007 Frankfurt motor show. Devoid of any extraneous detailing, the simple, product design aesthetic is pared back to represent the crux of VW's design philosophy: pure, simple and solid.  The result is a harmonious design that stands out from the pack, with simple surfacing and subtle detailing; the Up's design is pure and minimalistic, which serves to exude quality in the product. Inside, the vehicle is brimming with space-saving design details.  From an IP devoid of central air vents to a thin headrest that visually extends the height of the interior, the Up is a success story in space efficiency, but it is also finished to a high level using quality materials.

2013 Lamborghini Gallardo IS the last Gallardo (video)

Lamborghini has finally confirmed the Gallardo is now at the end of its life, with the 2013 Gallardo the ‘Final Gallardo’. But the Lamborghini Gallardo is anything but new as it’s been with us for a decade and, although still selling remarkably well, is well past its sell-by date. So we’d half expected that Paris may have seen the first sight of the Gallardo’s replacement rather than a mildly titivated version of the current car, but that now seems likely to happen at the Geneva Motor Show in 2013 after Lamborghini put up a website this week – The Final Gallardo – leaving us in no doubt the Gallardo’s time is up.