Seville 2001 Door Trim Panel, Front 51252 on 2040-parts.com

Frank Stephenson on the importance of color in design

During the announcement of the McLaren Automotive's partnership with paints and coatings company, AkzoNobel, Car Design News took the opportunity to discuss the importance of color in design with design director Frank Stephenson. According to Stephenson color's ability to invoke emotions and communicate with viewers, he described just how big a part it has to play in the design process and how it inspires designers when developing products. "The first thing color does is influence the brand – it gives the customer an identifiable element to what we're talking about.

Jaguar Land Rover raise £500 million to fund expansion

Jaguar Land Rover raise £500 million Jaguar Land Rover is raising £500 million on the bond market to fund its expansion, including new models and new facilities. Hot on the heels of the Jaguar Land Rover joint venture deal with Chery in China comes the news that Jaguar has dipped in to the private bond market to raise £500 million to help with its bold and bullish plans to make JLR a major world player in the premium vehicle sector. JLR plans to invest £1.5 billion a year on expansion and is making sure its coffers can cope by issuing £500 million of senior notes due in 2020, with the net proceeds of the bonds being used for general corporate purposes.

Dany Bahar’s restored V8 Lotus Esprit for sale

With Dany Bahar now ousted as Lotus boss, his fully restored 2002 V8 Lotus Esprit is up for sale. When Dany Bahar joined Lotus from Ferrari, he brought with him some grandiose plans – and an ability to spend money – that were ultimately his undoing. And it appears Bahar was a bit too grand to run around in any of Lotus’s current models as ambassador for the brand, instead deciding the way to go was a fully restored version of the last Lotus supercar – the Lotus Esprit.