David Clarke Headset-microphone H10-76 on 2040-parts.com

Aston Martin ‘Power Beauty Soul’ European Tour

Aston Martin are taking the Vanquish, V12 Zagato and V12 Vantage Roadster on a PR tour of European Aston Martin dealers. For a car company with limited technical resources, one platform and two engines, Aston Martin are making a pretty good fist of launching new models. We’ve recently had the launch of the Aston Martin Vanquish – successor to the DBS – with a harder edge and a bigger price tag, the V12 Vantage Roadster with the glorious V12 where it should be – in the front of an open-topped car for aural joy – and the V12 Zagat0, a limited run collaboration with Zagato at three times the price of the donor car.

Smart Forvision Concept points at new Fortwo

Smart Forvision Concept - a pointer to the 3rd generation Fortwo Just as they do with Maybach, Mercedes persist with Smart. Despite the fact that both outings must cost an arm and a leg to keep going with, as far as we know, no profits ever. And that perseverance seems unlikely to end any time soon – at least for Smart – with the reveal of the Smart Forvison Concept, which is heading for Frankfurt.

Fun with fiberglass: Petersen exhibit celebrates moldable material

To be an artisan in aluminum or the Stradivarius of steel, you need about 40 years as an apprentice working metal with pinchers and pullers and to spend a lot of time rolling sheets back and forth through an English wheel. To make something out of fiberglass, all you need is resin. The Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles is celebrating all things fiberglass--especially the cars--with an exhibit that runs through Oct.