Holley 6425 650 Cfm 2-barrel Carburetor on 2040-parts.com

Saab 9-4X (2010): first official photos

Saab has taken the wraps off the long-awaited new 9-4X crossover. And when we say long-awaited, we mean heavily delayed; this Swedish crossover has been in the pipeline for years. Based heavily on a US-spec Cadillac SUV and built in Mexico, the 9-4X betrays its old-school General Motors roots: the 296bhp 2.8-litre V6 petrol present from the Insignia is present and correct, allied to Saab’s own XWD four-wheel drive system.

Aston Martin's Launch Edition Cygnets (2011)

Production of the Aston Martin Cygnet begins in just a few months' time, and the sports car company has announced two special editions to celebrate the launch of its new city car. According to Aston Martin, the Cygnet Launch Edition White and Cygnet Launch Edition Black are being built to ‘exemplify the highly bespoke nature of this unique car.’ Are we alone in spotting the irony of building a run of identical vehicles to highlight the customisable nature of the Cygnet? The Cygnet Launch Edition White is supposed to be about serenity, with Snow White paint, white diamond-turned alloy wheels, and white Aston badges on the outside, and white leather on the inside.

Reproducing reality – X-Rite’s Total Appearance Capture

Total Appearance Capture isn't some sinister new form of identity theft but a revolutionary method of digitizing physical models using a new scanning technology, with the ability to capture extraordinary detail and all input and output light. The system, from coatings color measurement experts X-Rite, combines color, texture, gloss and other surface characteristics into a digital material ‘description' that can be imported directly to computer-aided design programs. What sets it apart from previously available methods is its ability to collect information on complex materials such as textiles, leather, basketwork, stone, coatings and plated finishes, in a 3D scene lit by a virtual studio environment.