Eagle Rods 420a Neon Eclipse Conecting Rod on 2040-parts.com

GM Advanced Design California celebrates 10th Anniversary

On the eve of the 2010 LA Auto Show, GM's California Advanced Design Studio opened its doors in North Hollywood, to celebrate its 10th Anniversary. Based in a former bakery, the studio occupies a relatively small space in North Hollywood/Burbank with studio warehouses and small outbuildings sharing the plot, creating an environment that – if not for the palm trees – could easily double for the artisan workshops of a firm in old Europe. Yet on the night itself, the studio took on an altogether ethereal appearance – light-filled globes floated above the buildings and grounds, casting a blue/white hue across the venue.

New (2014) Mazda 3 revealed – no prices yet

The new Mazda3 (pictured) arrives – and it looks good. The Mazda3 is already a better car than its sales would suggest, and the all new Mazda3 looks to be even more competition for the Ford Focus and VW Golf than ever before. Perhaps the only complaint about the Mazda3′s design is that it looks a bit too much like a shrunken Mazda6, but that’s a bit like moaning the DB9 looks like the Vanquish (well, the Mazda3′s not that good looking, but it makes the point).

Kia Soul Shaker returns & Kia Picanto White arrives

Kia is reintroducing the Soul Shaker to its Shaker Originals range and launching a range-topping Kia Picanto White. With metal to shift, economic gloom and snow on the ground, car makers turn to new variations on existing models to get bit more footfall – and sales – at their dealers. So Kia is reintroducing the Soul Shaker to its Originals offerings (along with the Soul Quantum and Soul Inferno) to sit at the top of the Soul range with its Vanilla Shake paint job (or, as a no cost option, Quartz Black), 18″ alloys, Houndstooth upholstery with beige trim and a rear-view mirror that comes with a built-in reversing camera.