Cessna 172 Cabin Heat Vent Upholstery Retainer Set (2), P/n: 0515020-1 on 2040-parts.com

Vauxhall & Opel could merge with Peugeot Citroen.

GM Europe (Opel and Vauxhall) could extend their deal with PSA (Peugeot Citroen) with a Joint Venture or merger. When GM Europe and PSA announced they were forming an alliance earlier this year, we asked if this was an admission that the mainstream car market in Europe had changed forever, and an alliance between Opel, Vauxhall, Peugeot and Citroen was the only way to keep the brands viable. But we did also question what use a projected annual saving of €2 billion by sharing suppliers and co-developing platforms would be to PSA and GM considering their woeful losses.

Ferrari SP FFX revealed – it’s not a looker

The one-off Ferrari SP FFX – complete with white fringe and coupe roof. Ferrari Special Operations is the division of Ferrari that relieves very well-heeled punters of vast quantities of cash to create one-off specials – just like Eric Clapton’s Ferrari SP12 EC. But a big bank account doesn’t necessarily equate to great taste, at least not if the only image we have of Ferrari’s latest one-off creation – the Ferrari SP FFX – is anything to go by.

PPG Design Challenge

Global supplier PPG Industries presented its Design Challenge awards at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show in January. The annual automotive glass design competition called for students to design a vehicle for a 20-something male named Matt - a recent college graduate beginning his career - whose vehicle needed to be image-enhancing and reliable. Taking inspiration from golf, bamboo charcoal and catamaran boats, 26 transportation design sophomores presented concepts that demonstrated the versatility of glass in providing unique styling as well as utility, comfort and convenience.