Datsun Roadster Side Soft Top Mounts/tensioner on 2040-parts.com

SAIC wins LA Auto Show Design Challenge

China's SAIC, the parent company of Roewe and MG brands (yes, Morris Garages and what used to be Rover), took the top spot in the LA Auto Show Design challenge with its Mobiliant Concept, beating other contestants like BMW DesignworksUSA, Subaru, Mazda, Changfeng, Quoros, and others. The theme for this year's challenge at the LA Auto Show was "Biomimicry & Mobility 2025: Nature's Answer to Human Challenges." Entrants were directed to propose design concepts that integrated the concept of biomimicry into transportation concepts. Quite a challenge and quite an open theme, especially when you consider that last year's theme was pretty straightforward: "Highway Patrol Vehicles in the Year 2025." In 2012 the Subaru SHARC concept took the top prize.

Is Ferrari for sale?

Reports out of Europe have Fiat considering selling a big chunk of Ferrari S.p.A. to raise cash so it can increase its stake in Chrysler Group to 51 percent. The Italian newspaper Il Corriere della Sera said it has gathered information at Fiat’s Turin headquarters and reported Fiat wants to raise cash to fund buying 51 percent of Chrysler, up from the 20 percent it owns now.

Car Design of the Year Awards 2007

What was your favorite car design from 2007? Here's your chance to vote for your favorite designs and CDN will present an award to the winning design teams. For the next four weeks, Car Design News is asking its readers to vote for their favorite car designs from the last twelve months.