Whistler Diagnoatic Inspection Camera on 2040-parts.com

Happy 80th Birthday, Syd Mead!

Take a poll among car designers to name their greatest influence, and one name is sure to appear at the top of the list: Syd Mead. The car designer, illustrator and futurist has inspired generations of the men and women who shape the cars we drive or admire. Syd has created the designs for the movies Blade Runner and Tron, while the illustrations published in his books such as Oblagon and Sentury (sought-after collector items today) depict the vision of a future dominated by superior technology and aesthetics.

Smart ForTwo

First launched in 1998 as the MCC Smart City Coupe, the ForTwo has been redeveloped as it moves towards the North American market. Length has increased from 2.5m to just under 2.7m - for greater crash protection and more trunk space, which now stands at 340 liters when packed to the roof. Regulations have also seen the IP straightened out, though the prominent air vents remain.

Volvo S60 (2010): more details, photos, video

  Volvo is pitching the new S60 saloon as a far sportier drive than the old model, which ceased production a full year ago. The 2010-spec Volvo S60 remains a four-door saloon, although the Swedes are at pains to point out its coupéness, with a sweptback C-pillar and plunging roofline. It looks slippery and the drag coefficient stands at 0.28.If the company’s claims are anything to go by, the S60 could dramatically move the needle on our perceptions of the Volvo brand.