Brass License Plate Frame, With 97 Corvette Logo on 2040-parts.com

Design Contest: Stile Italiano Giovani 2004

One of the sad things about being editor of a motoring magazine is turning down all the enthusiastic young job applicants who know exactly how to test Ferraris against Lamborghinis, using Porsches as benchmarks...exactly the kind of people I don't need. I imagine it might be the same with judging a design competition. There will be masses of young people who love drawing cars submitting their sketches - and there it all ends.

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.

Detroit Auto Show: Bentley Continental GTC Speed debuts

Bentley will complete its Speed portfolio when it introduces a freshened Continental GTC range at the Detroit auto show. Along with exterior and equipment changes, a new GTC Speed model is added with a more powerful version of the 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged W12 that churns out 600 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque for an improvement of 48 hp and 74 lb-ft over the regular GTC. The result is Bentley's most powerful convertible to date.