Volcom Flexfit Youth Hat on 2040-parts.com

Chris Bangle begins work with Changan Automobile on its design strategy and methodology

Chris Bangle is to consult with Changan Automobile to help develop its design strategy and processes in his first official automotive project since leaving BMW in 2009. Bangle – through his company Chris Bangle Associates (CBA) – will work with Changan's team in its European design center in Turin, Italy, reporting to design director Chen Zheng. And while his role will be linked to the brand's Chinese products, his focus will be on the design team's methodologies and philosophy; its management and its process of critique, rather than the hands-on design of its products.

Teen-created PSAs combat distracted driving

Two widely held assumptions about 21st-century American teenagers is that they're too busy with their smartphones to have any interest in cars and that any who manage to find their way behind the wheel are too distracted to drive safely anyway. These generalizations are broad, unfair and perhaps even counterproductive -- yet they're reinforced every time distracted driving leads to a preventable tragedy. That's why we were glad to see young drivers take action by creating a series of anti-distracted-driving public safety announcements for the Teens Drive Smart Video Contest.

Elon Musk to appear in an episode of The Simpsons

By Tim Pollard Motoring Issues 31 July 2014 09:29 Tesla chief Elon Musk is to appear in popular TV animation The Simpsons, the show’s executive producer has revealed. In a tweet this week, Al Jean said Musk would be in the first of 11 episodes of the next series of The Simpsons, the long-running comedy now entering its 26th season. For a man who’s already founded internet payment facility Paypal, launched Tesla Motors and backing space exploration firm SpaceX, an appearance on The Simpsons is probably just another day in the office for Musk.