Daihatsu Sonica 2006 Steering Wheel [9170100] on 2040-parts.com

Concept Car of the Week: Pontiac Pursuit (1987)

Wheels are an essential element of car design. They contribute graphically by adding a level a rhythm and details. They can also dramatically affect the impression of power and luxury, and even improve aerodynamic performance.

Opel Ampera preview

Opel has released a teaser sketch of its new five-door extended-range electric car ahead of its public debut at the Geneva Auto Show in March. Based on the Voltec powertrain and chassis architecture of Chevrolet's Volt, the Ampera promises to surpass that car in terms of style by some margin. The body appears to be nearly identical between the A- and C-pillars, but the deformed horseshoe-shaped headlamp design and two-bar grille come straight from the 2007 Flextreme concept, as do the car's tree-branch alloy wheels.

Electric-car start-up aims to keep NUMMI open with zero-emission vehicles

Electric car hopeful Aurica Motors LLC is floating a plan to keep open a California joint venture between Toyota and General Motors by building zero emission vehicles there. Aurica has been negotiating the plan with New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. for the past three months, Aurica General Manager Matt Pitagora said in a phone interview late Wednesday.