Wilcox 97707-300 Transponder Control Head - Used Avionics/parts on 2040-parts.com

Future products: Kia seeks lively, upscale look

Kia's redesigned Optima sedan and the Cadenza replacement for the Amanti, both due next year, reflect an emphasis on creating a livelier and more upscale look for the once-bland brand. Indeed, styling has been a crucial element of Kia's new-product push in the past 18 months. The team at Kia Design Center America near Los Angeles--part of the automaker's global design network led by onetime Audi design chief Peter Schreyer--has helped set the new styling direction.

Volkswagen Golf24 (2011): VW's new 'Ring racer

This flame-spitting beast is the Volkswagen Golf24, VW’s new Nurburgring 24hr racer. The Golf24 will race at the ‘Green Hell’ in the legendary endurance event on 25-26 June 2011, but although it’s been built as part of Volkswagen’s celebrations for the 35th anniversary of the GTI, it shares little with the hot hatch that we know and love. All sorts of parts from within the VW Group.

2012 Porsche Boxster S on video

2012 Porsche Boxster S Video Just a few days after the reveal of the 2012 / 2013 Porsche Boxster and Porsche Boxster S, we get the first video of the Boxster S. It’s a little unfair, but the Porsche Boxster gets tarred as the Porsche for the man (or woman) who can’t afford the real thing – a Porsche 911. But that is unfair, as the Boxster is a very good car.