Lisle 32150 Power / Ground Outlet on 2040-parts.com

Mitsubishi closes California design studio

Mitsubishi Motors Corp. closed its design studio in Cypress, CA last Thursday – just one month shy of its 25th anniversary. A result of the recent downturn in the global economy, the closure of the facility will eliminate 33 design positions as part of a personnel cull that has seen 60 people within the automaker's US operations lose their jobs.

Lamborghini Egoista concept

To celebrate the 50th birthday of Sant'Agata's most famous export, Volkswagen Group Design Director Walter de Silva led a team in the creation of the wild Lamborghini Egoista concept. "I am very attached to this Italian brand, being an Italian myself," said de Silva at its unveiling. "I wanted to pay homage to and think up a vehicle to underline the fact that Lamborghinis have always been made with passion, and with the heart more than the head." This single-seat, V10-powered sportscar – with Alessandro Dambrisio responsible for its exterior design and Stefan Sielaff its interior – is an extreme interpretation of the faceted aesthetic introduced by the 2007 Reventón and last seen on the Veneno shown earlier this year at the Geneva motor show.

Hyundai loses top U.S. designer

Hyundai's North American design chief, Joel Piaskowski, left the automaker on Dec. 31. Piaskowski is credited as the main designer for the Hyundai Genesis sedan and coupe.