Grand Master 60* 1.075 X 5/16 (84) on 2040-parts.com

Lotus announces partnership with Mansory

Group Lotus has announced its new collaboration with Mansory, which will become its official customization studio. The German tuner will be contributing bodywork, trim and special finishes for the Elise, Exige and Evora in yet another controversial strategic decision for the UK company. Lotus confirmed the first fruits of this new partnership will be the unveiling a new model variant at September's Paris motor show, two years after the highly ambitious announcement of five new models of which the first is yet to become reality.

Video: FiDU technology creating lightweight, inflatable metal structures

This short video, featuring designer Oskar Zieta, details the process and design possibilities behind products developed with FiDU (Freie Innendruck Umformung – "free internal pressure forming") technology. Zieta, a Polish designer, explains how the lightweight yet robust metal appears as a soft object yet when you touch it you realize that it is actually a hard metal. "Working with FIDU technology is similar to carving clay," Zieta explains.

McLaren supercars

By Tim Pollard 29 July 2008 09:00 Conceived as Ron Dennis and his closest allies were held up in an airport lounge, the F1 remains for many the definitive supercar. Woking-based McLaren Automotive is part of the F1-focused McLaren group and its grand prix nous shone through loud and clear with the F1. If you've been waiting 14 years for another F1, fret not.