Vietnam Era Parachute: Irving Air Chute Co. Back Pack. Mfg. 1961 on 2040-parts.com

Interior Motives Design Awards 2008

The second press day of the Paris motor show once again coincided with the annual Interior Motives Design Awards, a competition open to student designers around the world and now in its sixth year. A jury made up of high-ranking design professionals, including the likes of VW's Flavio Manzoni and Faurecia's Andreas Wlasak, selected winners in the following 11 categories: Best Use of Ambient Lighting Best Innovation Best Production Interior Best Use of Technology Best Lifestyle Interior Best Safety Innovation Best Personalisation Best Eco Design Best Conceptual Interior Best Conceptual Exterior Best Xperience The title of 2008 Student Designer of the Year - and the grand prize of $5000 - went to the Royal College of Art's Pierre Sabas. His four-seater Free Form coupe concept took an inside-out approach to design, consisting of articulated, interlocking seat elements designed to eliminate the need for bulky, constrictive exterior crumple zones, and a sliding dashboard for adaptable ergonomics.

Chris Harris finds the McLaren P1 “a whole new thing” (video)

Chris Harris and McLaren’s Chris Goodwin in the McLaren P1 We know the McLaren P1 is exceptional, and we’ve heard almost the same ‘game changer’ dialogue from anyone who’s driven it. We’ve also seen the McLarenj P1 on the move in the recent Top Gear with Jeremy scaring himself witless in Belgium as his brain came to terms with the awesome 903bhp at the P1′s disposal on a less than forgiving Spa circuit in damp conditions. But what we have here – in case you’ve not seen it elsewhere – is a video review of the McLaren P1 from Drive’s Chris Harris, and it does the best job we’ve seen of explaining just why the P1 is so special and why it’s “…a whole new thing”.

Robert Kidder, former Duracell chief, to head new Chrysler as chairman

Business consultant Robert Kidder is set to become the new chairman of Chrysler Group when it emerges from bankruptcy. Kidder, 64, will replace Bob Nardelli, who was hired in 2007 after Daimler sold Chrysler to private equity group Cerberus. A new board of directors, to be formed after bankruptcy, will hire a new CEO for Chrysler.