Black Stitch Perforated Leather Gear & Handbrake Cuff For Bmw F20 F21 11-17- on 2040-parts.com

European Car of the Year shortlist announced

THE SEVEN CARS that will battle it out to become European Car of the Year (ECOTY) 2014 have been announced. Decided on by a jury of 53 motoring journalists from across Europe, the shortlists is made up of the BMW i3, Citroen C4 Picasso, Mazda 3, Mercedes S-Class, Peugeot 308, Skoda Octavia and Tesla Model S. This is the first time the ECOTY shortlist of contenders has included two electric vehicles with the BMW i3 and Tesla Model S.

Video: The Making of the Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo

In a new video exploring the design of the AMG Vision Gran Turismo, Mercedes-Benz designers speak of their excitement at designing without restrictions. The video, which features figures such as design vice-president Gorden Wagener, traces the car's development from the sketch phase to the final model – unveiled at last month's Los Angeles auto show. Steffen Köhl, director advanced design global, says, "We had the mix between the very far away showcar design – free and pure emotion – and a car that reacts realistically in the game." "The most stunning aspect of this car is the proportion.

Volvo's Mean Green semi breaks records in Utah

The Volvo hybrid truck, a.k.a. Mean Green, achieved two world speed records at Wendover Airfield in Utah, one for the standing kilometer and one for the flying kilometer. It didn't hit its planned top velocity of 165 mph, but 147 mph is still a respectable speed for a truck originally meant for hauling trailers down a highway.