Ford Oem 8c2z1561203aa Front Seat Belts-buckle on 2040-parts.com

Off the line: Fun cars and social responsibility Autoweek op-ed stands the test of time

It's been almost 21 years to the day that Autoweek printed Matt DeLorenzo's column “Off the Line: There's room for fast, fun cars in diet of social responsibility.” And in those two decades plus, not much has changed except the vehicles themselves. For example, sports cars like the Bugatti Veyron and Pagani Huayra have astronomically high performance and safety levels; similarly, sport-utility vehicles that haul entire families (and most of their earthly possessions) achieve fuel economy similar to that of 1970s midsize sedans. To read all of DeLorenzo's thoughts and his case for automobiles, click the links to download the article.

CAR meets Porsche’s 2014 Le Mans chief

By Ben Pulman First Official Pictures 11 December 2013 14:50 Porsche is returning to Le Mans in 2014 for the first time since 1998 with an all-new LMP1 prototype, and with ex-Red Bull Racing Formula One driver Mark Webber as its star driver. Audi has dominated Le Mans for the past decade, but new-for-2014 rules allow for any engine size and configuration, and instead focus on energy consumption per lap. With the slate wiped clean, 2014 will be Porsche’s best chance to beat its fellow VW Group member, and the strong Toyota team.

Toyota FT-EV concept unveiled at Detroit auto show 2009

By Ben Pulman Motor Shows 10 January 2009 20:00 This is Toyota’s new FT-EV concept, the first of three eco-friendly cars being unveiled at the Detroit motor show over the next few days, the other two being the all-new third-generation Prius and the hybrid-only Lexus HS250h. The FT-EV is Toyota’s way of confirming that it will build a battery-electric vehicle (BEV) in 2012, but it’s also using the concept to promote its other environmentally friendly vehicles. The FT-EV concept is built on the iQ’s platform, and designed for commuters with daily journeys of less than 50 miles.