Halibrand V-8 Quick Change Cover Torrance City Ca. Hot Rod / Rat Rod on 2040-parts.com

Q&A: David Townsend, GM global design director, user experience

GM's new design director of user experience, David Townsend, has only been in the job just over a month. But with a remit extending to the interface design of every vehicle in GM's global portfolio, his influence will soon be widespread. After graduating from Art Center with a degree in transportation design, Townsend interned for Toyota but soon moved to Motorola, where he developed wearable Bluetooth technology and designed the familiar headsets worn by coaches in the NFL.

Concept Car of the Week: BMW Spicup (1969)

The oddly named Spicup, standing for Spider and Coupé, was first presented at the 1969 Geneva Motor Show. Carozzeria Bertone had previous collaborations with BMW such as the 3200CS coupe by Giugiaro. The friendship between Nuccio Bertone and Willhelm Hoffmeister, head of bodywork construction at BMW, must have also contributed to the brand agreeing to provide an early pre-production of the E3 generation 2500 saloon as a base for the concept.

Aston Martin puts on a show for the Lord Mayor

Aston Martin puts on a show for the Lord Mayor The weather on Saturday was wet and miserable, but that didn’t stop the annual Lord Mayor’s Show in London going ahead, complete with a selection of Aston Martin’s finest. The Lord Mayor’s Show happens on the second Saturday in November every year, and has for 477 years followed the same route  - even throughout World Wars – as the City of London celebrates the inauguration of a new Lord Mayor. This year Aston Martin was asked to take part by the The Worshipful Company of Coachmakers and Coach Harness Makers of London – an apt invite for Aston’s centenary year – and Aston Martin responded with a decent turnout of models.