Quartermaster Quick Change Gear Set #34, 5.69/6.71, Winters on 2040-parts.com

Toyota car design contest for kids makes us smile and wonder 'what if'

Toyota has held its eighth annual dream car art contest, inviting entries from children aged 15 or younger from all around the world to imagine their dream car. Entries have poured in, all on paper as digital methods aren't allowed. However, Toyota has turned the work of the 90 finalists into six-second Vine videos.

Milano Design Week 2004

In its 43rd year the Salone Internazionale del Mobile (international furniture fair) finally takes on a new, more encompassing name: Milano Design Week 04. The reason for this change in quite simply a question of numbers; the week long fair is no longer only a platform for furniture manufacturers to show their latest collections, it is an enormous manifestation of all that is designed from everywhere in the world. Therefore, and understandably, an event that hosts the Salone Internazionale del Mobile (home ware and furniture), Eurocucina (bathrooms), EIMU (office furniture), Tessile (fabrics), Salone Satellite (young designers), Dining Design, Designing Designers, Material ConneXion, and Street Dining Design deserved a more noble title.

Volkswagen New Midsize Coupe debuts at China motor show

The Volkswagen NMC (New Midsize Coupe) concept makes official the German carmaker's plans for a style-led sedan to challenge the likes of the strong selling Mercedes-Benz CLA. Unveiled at the Beijing motor show, the new four-door closely previews a future Jetta-based model that will slot into the Volkswagen lineup beneath the existing Passat CC, most likely in 2016. Volkswagen design boss Klaus Bischoff describes the NMC as “avant-garde protagonist for a new compact sedan class.” Looking all but ready for production, it continues the current Volkswagen design lineage, with crisp features and lines, heavily horizontal detailing, and taut surfacing -- all aimed at providing it with a technical-inspired appearance.