Mercedes R129, 300sl Shifter on 2040-parts.com

Toyota Prius points the way to design future

For a glimpse of Toyota's future design trends, check out the Prius. The third generation, debuting Monday in Japan, stays true to the line's role as a vanguard of futuristic styling and sports many new elements that will be popping up soon in other models. Chief among these are the sharply creased corners, the forward placement of the Toyota badge, a lowered grille and styling that Toyota's global design chief Wahei Hirai calls "free-form geometrics." The goal was to create an avant-garde, high-tech look that also screams green.

German car collector re-imagines Lancia Stratos

If German car collector and Lancia Stratos fan Michael Stoschek gets his way, there will be a new interpretation of the legendary Stratos rally car sooner rather than later. Speculation and spy photos have been circulating for a couple weeks, and now we have official photos. Italian design house Pininfarina did the prototype, which Stoschek originally had done for his personal use.

Mercedes A 45 AMG: Price from £37,845 – first deliveries August

The new Mercedes A45 AMG (pictures) starts at £37,845 The new Mercedes A45 AMG promises to be the first small Mercedes to put a dent in BMW’s baby M cars, and now you can place your order. The order book for the A45 AMG has opened, and with prices starting from £37,845 it promises yo be a lot of bang for your money, with 181bhp per litre from its 2.0 litre 4-cylinder and 0-62mph coming up in just 4.6 seconds. As we already know, the A45 gets an AMG body kit with new front bumper, front splitter, gloss black sill extensions, new back bumper and a set of 18″ or 19″ alloys.