Triumph T120 T140 Oil Filter / Sump Plate, # 83-2826, Bsa A65, B1696 on 2040-parts.com

Geneva Motor Show 2007 Trends and Overview

Geneva is always one of the best shows to visit - it's easy to get to from the airport or city centre, it's more compact than the other major auto shows, it's well attended by car designers and there are a lot of new designs to enjoy. This year there were at least 14 significant new production debuts, a similar number of concept cars and, for a change, the weather was more spring like than winter... The core reaction from the designers we spoke to at the show was that there were no really very exceptional new cars at the show - the Hyundai HED-4 Qarmaq concept, Mazda Hakaze concept and Maserati GranTurismo being the possible exceptions.

Videos: Volkswagen's exterior and interior designers highlight the Up's design elements

We've enjoyed the design of Volkswagen's new Up since we first saw the vehicle in concept form at the 2007 Frankfurt motor show. Devoid of any extraneous detailing, the simple, product design aesthetic is pared back to represent the crux of VW's design philosophy: pure, simple and solid.  The result is a harmonious design that stands out from the pack, with simple surfacing and subtle detailing; the Up's design is pure and minimalistic, which serves to exude quality in the product. Inside, the vehicle is brimming with space-saving design details.  From an IP devoid of central air vents to a thin headrest that visually extends the height of the interior, the Up is a success story in space efficiency, but it is also finished to a high level using quality materials.

BTCC stars arrive at race meet... with a race-insipred caravan

BRITISH Touring Car stars Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden arrived at their most recent race weekend with something a bit out of the ordinary in tow. The pair arrived in a Honda Civic Tourer, liveried up to look just like the racing versions the pair are more used to thrashing around. What’s more, they were towing a caravan just as covered in Honda Yuasa Racing graphics as the car, having meandered across the country stopping only for picnics and barbecues – although they did enjoy a spot of mountain biking too.