Parts Unlimited Custom Fit Throttle Cable #0650-0692 on 2040-parts.com

CDR Insight Quarterly – Q1 2013

Car Design Research Insight Quarterly – Q1 2013 Independent consultancy, Car Design Research's 'Insight Quarterly' looks at the latest trends in the automotive design world and beyond, four times each year. Currently distributed to a handful of their design contacts in the industry, we'll be running these quarterlies to highlight the latest trends and insights from a firm who work regularly and closely with the design groups of many major OEMs. In this year's first Insight Quarterly, the team highlight the notion of 'designing for export'.

Land Rover Defender to be built in Sri Lanka

The Land Rover Defender is to be built outside the UK in a new plant in Sri Lanka to produce Defenders for the region. Land Rover are assisting and training staff at a new assembly plant in Hambantota, Sri Lanka, run by Sathosa Motors PLC in a 50-50 deal with Land Rover distributors SML Frontier Automotive, with $1 million being invested to get the project up and running this year. It seems clear from the level of investment that this is simply an assembly operation using CKD kits from the UK for the Defender, but Sri Lank’s Daily News is reporting that there are plans to invest $500 million in the project.

All-new Ford F-150 revealed at 2014 Detroit Motor Show

Ford has revealed an all-new version of the States' bestselling vehicle, the F-150 pick-up – and in a world first, the US favourite boasts an all-aluminium body and lightweight, high-strength steel frame. The new Ford F-150 is more than 300kg lighter than the model it replaces and, thanks to four engine choices including an all-new downsized 2.7-litre EcoBoost turbo, is much more fuel efficient too. Given that Ford sold a staggering 763,402 F-150s in 2013 alone, these changes will have a very positive effect in terms of the new model's environmental impact.