Volkswagen Oem 1c0959455c Engine Cooling Fan Motor/radiator Fan Motor on 2040-parts.com

Design Contest: AutoStyle 2011

The newly renovated Polirone Abbey in San Benedetto Po, Italy, will again play host to the Autostyle design competition on October 6th and 7th. Now in its eighth edition, the event is more than just a design contest; it is also a workshop on the state of the auto industry. Devised by Roberto Artioli, managing director of Berman SpA, an OEM parts and genuine accessories designer and supplier, and Fulvio Cinti, Director of Auto & Design magazine, the event will honor the winners of this year's competition and present a total of five awards to 12 finalists, which have been selected out of 80 applicants from different design schools.

Chevrolet Volt leads satisfaction survey

The Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid has topped Consumer Reports' latest owner-satisfaction survey after its first year on the market. The magazine said 93 percent of respondents who own a Volt said they would definitely purchase one again, making it the highest-rated car in the annual poll. Two second-place finishers, the V8-powered Dodge Challenger and the Porsche 911, drew the most-favorable grade from 91 percent of buyers.

Concept Car of the Week: Mercedes F200 Imagination (1996)

The F200 Imagination was designed at Mercedes' Advanced Design studio in Tokyo, in response to the question 'does the car of the future still have a steering wheel and foot-operated controls?' Take a look at the car's interior and the answer was fairly emphatic, as the steering wheel and pedals were replaced by joysticks, called Sidesticks, that operated the throttle, brakes and steering by wire. There were two sticks to choose from, one on the left of the cabin and one in the center console. However, both had the same function – push forward to accelerate, left or right to turn, and back to brake – so either of the front passengers could control the car.