European Car Magazine Formerly Vw & Porshe Old Vintage June 1992 on 2040-parts.com

One Lap of the Web: Remembering the dearly departed

-- With news that Toyota is leaving the great state of California for the greater (by landmass, anyway; your own opinion may vary) state of Texas, it's worth reminding ourselves that Toyota in America started as one lonely building on 6000 Hollywood Blvd., having taken over a former Rambler dealership. (The site is still a successful Toyota dealership.) That first year of sales in 1958 saw 287 Toyopet Crowns and one Land Cruiser sold -- more as curiosities than as practical transportation, we'd wager. -- At any rate, Toyota's move from California to Texas is moving from "one of the most eco-friendly states in the union," according to Ward's Auto, "to the U.S.’s equivalent of China." -- Ten years ago today, the last Oldsmobile rolled off the line at Lansing Car Assembly.

Mazda 3 and Mazda 3 Fastback star at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show

Three is a magic number for Mazda at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor show. The new Mazda 3 is the third car from the Japanese manufacturer’s ‘Skyactiv’ line-up, joining the CX5 crossover and the 6 saloon and estate. This time around, the regular Mazda 3 hatchback is joined by a larger ‘Fastback’ saloon model, offering even more practicality should you need it.

Art Center Summit - Designing Sustainable Mobility

Shrinking oil reserves, global warming, failed political administration policies, the car as an avatar, industrial humanism and the motorized shoe were just a few of the topics and ideas discussed at the Art Center College of Design 'Designing Sustainable Mobility' conference, held in California in February. For the designers in the room, a bright light was shone from BMW's Chris Bangle. A lively speaker with an optimistic speech giving us terms like "Industrial Humanism" and "design with meaning".