Hood Center Molding Cpmg4754-2 on 2040-parts.com

Local Motors XC2V Competition

Local Motors, producer of the Rally Fighter, has teamed up with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to host a design contest. The partnership, which was made possible within the Adaptive Vehicle Makes initiative, aims to create an Experimental Crowd-derived Combat-support Vehicle (XC2V), exploring the potential of a crowd-sourced design for military use. The initiative to develop a crowd-derived vehicle body design for the US military was created in an effort to decrease the time and developmental costs associated with creating niche military vehicles.

Fuel prices 'still number one concern'

FUEL DUTY freezes have done nothing to stop the public worrying about the price of filling up their cars, according to research from British Car Auctions. More than 70% of the 400-person sample cited fuel prices as the number one concern when it comes to motoring costs, despite reports from the AA that pump prices have actually fallen over the last year. Second place in the survey was taken by the cost of road tax, which reflects that the survey was taken among used car buyers.

Videos: Volkswagen's exterior and interior designers highlight the Up's design elements

We've enjoyed the design of Volkswagen's new Up since we first saw the vehicle in concept form at the 2007 Frankfurt motor show. Devoid of any extraneous detailing, the simple, product design aesthetic is pared back to represent the crux of VW's design philosophy: pure, simple and solid.  The result is a harmonious design that stands out from the pack, with simple surfacing and subtle detailing; the Up's design is pure and minimalistic, which serves to exude quality in the product. Inside, the vehicle is brimming with space-saving design details.  From an IP devoid of central air vents to a thin headrest that visually extends the height of the interior, the Up is a success story in space efficiency, but it is also finished to a high level using quality materials.