One lap of the web: Hood ornaments, TVR, XJ220 and the Dodge Challenger Hellcat

Petrolicious is talking about artist Rene Jules Lalique and his famous “car mascots.” Lalique was a French designer known for his glass art, perfume bottles jewelry and of course hood ornaments. Petrolicious has a selection of detailed pictures from Lalique, each one more impressive than the last. Bring a Trailer is hawking a 1967 TVR 2200S Special Race Car on its website.

Toyota Fun-Vii concept

Billed as the automotive equivalent of the smartphone, the Toyota Fun-Vii concept is part of the ‘Fun to Drive, Again' section of Toyota's concept car onslaught at the 2011 Tokyo motor show. The Fun-Vii is a socially-integrated vehicle that can change its appearance as quickly as the owner can download an app. The surfacing of the concept can be used as a display surface for business, with the body color and display content changeable at will.

Nissan expands Beijing studio

With the expansion of the Chinese market, the country's position in the automotive industry is increasingly important. Homegrown design elements look set to enhance brand competitiveness, while the on-the-ground knowledge garnered by Chinese studios is becoming invaluable feeding back into global companies. It's clear therefore that Nissan Design China (NDC) will play an increasingly important role in Nissan's global design network.