LA Design Challenge 2013: The Entries

The LA Auto Show Design Challenge entries have been revealed, featuring designs from nine of the world's top design studios. JAC, Mazda, SAIC, Qoros, Subaru, Changfeng, Toyota and two groups from BMW DesignworksUSA have submitted designs for the challenge, themed ‘Biomimicry & Mobility 2025: Nature's Answer to Human Challenges'. This year's brief asked for designs for a vehicle experience that identify issues like congestion, pollution, sustainability, flexibility and safety in designing a mobility solution that mimics nature to solve them.

Brabus 800 E V12 Cabriolet – it’s a bonkers Mercedes E-Class Cabriolet

Brabus 800 E V12 Cabriolet So you fancy a Mercedes E-Class Cabriolet, but you feel Mercedes has failed miserably to endow any E-Class Cab with enough power to whip the skin off a rice pudding. What do you do? You go out and grab yourself an E-Class Cab tweaked and fettled by Brabus – something like the new Brabus 800 E V12 Cabriolet with 800 continental horses at its disposal – more than enough speed on tap to whip the syrups off your back-seat passengers.

Tesla Model S burns in Seattle

A Tesla Model S crashed and burned on Tuesday morning in Seattle. The electric-vehicle manufacturer told Bloomberg that the Model S “collided with a large metallic object in the middle of the road, causing significant damage to the vehicle.” More specifically, the object struck the Tesla's battery. The report worried investors, and Tesla stock fell 6.2 percent on Wednesday.