Subaru Outback Gold Emblem on 2040-parts.com

Concept Car of the Week: Saab Aero X

In January 2005 Bryan Nesbitt, then-executive director of GM Europe Design, charged the 15-strong Saab Advanced design team in Gothenburg, Sweden, to create the "ultimate vision of the brand". The design team – led by head of Advanced Design at Saab, Anthony Lo – worked on a number of sports car proposals, which were considered 'the jet fighters of the road.' The chosen proposal by Alex Daniel was for a large, front-engined sports car that would become one of the most universally acclaimed concept cars of recent times. Of course the Aero X's door arrangement – complete with huge, forward-hinged canopy – is its party trick, but even without the theatrics the car's proportions, surfacing and graphics are exceptional.

Ferrari 458 Italia World Première +Video

The Ferrari has its world premiere this week in Maranello Wednesday evening saw gala presentation of the 458 Italia to an invited crowd, and Ferrari had every Ferrari-associated face on display, from Michael Schumacher to Piero Ferrari. It’s the usual glad-handing event, but we do get a few glimpses of the 458 in motion, and it’s a curtain raiser for the proper reveal next week at Frankfurt. I’ll take the nice black one near the end of the video.

Plug-In 2013 conference plugs along

Every now and then, the electric car industry comes together in a sort of Woodstock-of-the-Watt-Hour to take stock of itself and to exchange ideas, sign contracts and maybe have a beer. The most recent parliament of the plug-in was last week in San Diego at an annual industry event known as Plug-In 2013, although obviously they change the year in the title as necessary. Why keep gathering?