Ford Motor Company Black Hat on 2040-parts.com

Drayson Racing and Michelin compete for EV record

Drayson Racing Technologies and Michelin are joining forces to make a run at the FIA World Electric Land Speed Record on Tuesday with the Drayson B12 69/EV prototype. In addition to a record attempt this will be a real-world test for the car, which will also compete in the 2014 FIA Formula E Championship. The car was originally powered by a 5.5-liter biofuel Judd engine, but it has now been converted to full electric drive.

ICEM Style creative design software launched

ICEM Ltd, known for its ICEM Surf Class A surface development software, has launched ICEM Style, a new software product developed specifically for use by creative designers in the transportation design and industrial design industry. The launch presentation highlighted the integrated workflow from concept development in ICEM Style, through to refinement in ICEM Surf, enabling designers and engineers to share the same model data throughout the design process. According to ICEM, it is now possible, for the first time in a concept design tool, to design in a photo-realistic modelling environment, without using third-party visualisation products, or to wait for a static rendering to be generated.

Skoda Superb facelift (2013) first official pictures

This is the new 2013 Skoda Superb, which sports completely redesigned front and rear bodywork, and more frugal powertrains than the outgoing car. What's new under the bonnet of the 2013 Skoda Superb? Stop-start tech and a kinetic energy recovery system (which takes the strain off the engine's alternator by using braking to charge up a capacitor) cuts fuel consumption by up to 19% versus the old Superb. It's all fitted as standard on the diesel engines, and the entry-level 1.4 TSI petrol.