Supra Turbo Aristo 2jz on 2040-parts.com

Middlecott Sketchbattle Experiment contest pits auto designers against Detroit talent

Local creative and design talent from outside and inside the car industry will go head-to-head in a multi-round competition for the title of Sketchmaster in the Middlecott Sketchbattle Experiment (MSBE). To be held at an underground afterparty for the Auto Show Charity Preview on 17 January at the Kunsthalle Museum in Detroit, the self-styled car design fight club will be attended by industry leaders, designers from Ford, GM, Chrysler, Toyota and Tier One suppliers. Car enthusiasts, artists and designers from around the globe will also be present.

Exclusive: Honda to Close European Design Studios

In a surprise announcement, Honda has decided to close design operations in Europe, based in Germany. The decision to shut down both the car design and motorcycle design studios of Honda R&D Europe (HRE-G) in Offenbach, near Frankfurt was taken at the end of September and came as a shock announcement to employees. It represents the latest casualty in cuts for the car design community.

Hot European sales delay U.S. launch of the BMW X1 possibly until 2012

BMW won't launch the X1 small crossover in the United States before late this year, and the vehicle may not arrive until 2012 because of hot demand in Europe. "We are supply constrained," said Jim O'Donnell, CEO of BMW of North America. "As long as they keep selling them, I do not know when we are going to get it." The decision to delay U.S.