Michelin Challenge Design 2013 finalists announced

The finalists of the 2013 Michelin Challenge Design global vehicle design competition have been announced with all 15 of the chosen entrants' work to be displayed at NAIAS 2013. This year's theme, 'HALF! Lightweight with Passion', asked participants to explore how design contributes to and impacts the ongoing effort to develop more efficienct vehicles, while keeping the emotional side of car design front of mind.

Monster Jam is totally rad

To our 6-year-old selves, monster trucks really were the biggest, baddest things on four wheels, mechanized, city-block-sized demon machines that ate sedans and belched fire. The reality is that the trucks aren't that big when you get right up next to them -- certainly not the Caterpillar 797-sized car-obliterators we imagined years ago. They're probably around 12 feet high at most; given current trends, they'll be eclipsed by heavy-duty pickups in a design cycle or two.

BMW to expand Mini lineup, looks at second assembly plant

BMW said it will increase Mini's model lineup to up to 10 vehicles while boosting the brand's production capacity in the U.K. and at a new contract manufacturing site, likely to be in the Netherlands. BMW will invest $388 million in its U.K.