Vintage Kollsman Scout Vertical Speed Indicator Cessna Piper Beach on 2040-parts.com

Arizona Biltmore Concours d'Elegance planned for Jan. 12

Work is underway to hold a Concours d'Elegance at the Arizona Biltmore on Sunday, Jan. 12 -- the Sunday preceding the classic-car auctions in Scottsdale. The date makes a lot of sense.

2009’s 10 most fuel-efficient cars in America: The AutoWeek list

Toyota Prius Hybrid 46 mpg combined Base price: $22,720 Our take: The perennial mpg all-star takes the crown again for 2009. Honda Civic Hybrid 42 mpg combined Base price: $24,320 Our take: Another top contender in reliability and fuel economy, the Honda Civic Hybrid is a smart choice. Smart Fortwo Coupe 36 mpg combined Base price: $12,635 Our take: This funky coupe is the least expensive on our list, proving you can be green without spending it.

Design Services: Car Menu launched

Within almost every automotive design department throughout the world, their comes a time when a junior designer is dispatched to find a picture of some new model's tail lamp, the side view of a particular class leading competitor or examples of several new cars' colour and trim packages. Whilst looking at the competition is not necessarily a healthy way of finding ideas, it is often essential to demonstrate what is feasible, check in-house proposals are not too derivative, or show how advanced a design theme is relative to the same type of cars on the market. But even if the particular aspect of a car can be found, press packs and magazines typically show cars in the flattering light of an exotic location or being drifted around a corner on opposite lock; rarely are these images particularly useful.