Volvo Penta Bendix Box 240619 on 2040-parts.com

European Parliament: electric cars must make noise

The European Parliament has voted in favour of a European Commission proposal to decrease the maximum allowed noise for new cars, vans, trucks, buses and coaches, in an effort to reduce “vehicle noise nuisance” by 25%. At the same time, the EU has voted in favour of a proposal to force carmakers to fit electric and hybrid electric vehicles with a sound generating device, to improve low speed safety for pedestrians and the visually impaired. On Bing: see pictures of electric cars Find out how much a used electric car costs on Auto Trader The proposed changes, which are expected to become law, would see new car noise levels reduced by four decibels, commercial vehicle noise levels reduced by three decibels.

Sao Paolo 'Giugiaro – 45 Years of Italian Design' exhibition announced

The ‘Giugiaro – 45 years of Italian Design' exhibition will be held at the Sao Paolo Museu da Casa Brasileira. The show, held from 7 February until 31 March, highlights the significance of Giorgetto and Fabrizio Giugiaro's work for the Italian design identity. The Museu da Casa Brasileira, which gives the most important design award in Brazil, will use five rooms to display exhibits ranging from car designs and concepts – the Aztec and Structura – to production models including the Volkswagen Golf Mk 1.

Full-scale model of 5th Peugeot Design Competition winner revealed in Shanghai

A life-sized model of Carlos Arturo Torres Tovar's RD concept, for which the 26 year old Columbian designer won the 5th Peugeot Design competition, is on display at the Peugeot stand in Shanghai. The 'RD' concept was chosen via an online internet poll and a competition jury headed by Peugeot's Managing Director, Jean Philippe Collin in September last year. The theme for the 2008 competition was 'Imagine the Peugeot in the worldwide megapolis of tomorrow'.