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Design Contest: LA Design Challenge 2008

The entrants for the fifth annual Design Challenge, part of the Design Los Angeles automobile designers' conference, have now been announced. Nine Southern California automotive design studios - including Audi, BMW, GM, Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota and Volkswagen - have been pitted against one another and asked to develop a concept which best answers a brief entitled 'Motorsports in 2025'. "Automotive designers have always been fascinated with motorsports and this year's Design Challenge has provided them with the opportunity to use their creative talent to look at these cars with new eyes, using innovative technologies and approaches," said Chuck Pelly, director of Design Los Angeles and partner in The Design Academy, Inc.

Ford's Sync takes on General Motors' OnStar with live operators

Ford Motor Co. is taking on General Motors' OnStar system by offering live operator assistance. Ford's new feature, called Operator Assist, offers live operators to help Sync Services subscribers find a business or get turn-by-turn directions.

John Entwistle’s Rolls Royce Silver Shadow ESTATE up for grabs

John Entwistle’s Rolls Royce Silver Shadow Shooting Brake (pictured) up for sale Rolls Royce has never made an estate car – or Shooting Brake, as posh estates (and modern wannabes) tend to be badged – but that hasn’t stopped well-heeled owners from Maharajahs to rock stars turning Rolls Royces in to hunting and shooting transport for almost a hundred years. Taking the finest creations of Rolls and turning them in to a bespoke shooting brake is not a cheap hobby, but if you fancy a bit of gentrified rock ‘n’ roll history, Bonham’s have got The Ox’s (that’s John Entwistle, the Who bassist, for the younger readers) customised Silver Shadow Shooting Brake up for grabs. The Ox had the Rolls turned in to a Shooting Brake by an unknown coachbuilders back in the 1980s to carry his Irish Wolfhounds, and when he died as a result of a bit to much nose candy his Rolls Royce Shooting Brake was bought by the current owner from Entwistle’s wife.