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Factory Five Body Design Competition

Following in the footsteps of Local Motors, Factory Five is set to launch an open-sourced design contest to design its next car. Up until now, the Massachusetts-based company is famed for its Type '65 Shelby Cobra Coupe replicas and its GTM racecar. Teaming up with Grassroots Motorsports Magazine, Factory Five is now launching the design contest to design the bodywork for its latest project: a Subaru Impreza-engined, rear-wheel-drive two-seater that is expected to sell for under $9,000 in kit form, or $15,000 as a complete car.

Design Services: Ficosa International

In the hierarchy of car design the exterior of a powerful sports car is usually regarded as the highest level whilst the design of some of the smaller functional components tends to sit at the bottom. But even for companies not obviously dependant on sexy curves to help them make money, design is increasingly being recognised as a critical ingredient for commercial success. Whilst most large suppliers have grown their design capability over the last decade, few have truly embraced the potential of having a focus on Design within their corporate strategy.

Volkswagen working on new VR6 engine

Volkswagen is pushing ahead with development of a new narrow-angle V6 direct-injection gas engine, sources from the German carmaker's engineering headquarters based in Braunschweig reveal. Engineering for the new engine is being overseen by Volkswagen's new head of engine development, Fritz Eichler -- who in a previous position led the development of the current generation of Mercedes-Benz AMG powerplants -- continues with a swept volume of 3.0-liters and an unfashionable 15-degree cylinder bank angle. It has been conceived for transverse mounting.