1983 Diesel Ford Ranger Cluster on 2040-parts.com

LA Design Challenge 2011: studios compete to design Hollywood car

This year's LA Design Challenge will see competitors from around the world battle to design Hollywood's next movie car. Participating design studios from General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz Germany (Smart), Mercedes-Benz Japan (Maybach) and Mercedes-Benz US will all be showcasing their creative talents in an effort to secure top honors. Automobiles in Hollywood films produced throughout the years have become some of the most iconic symbols of the films – perhaps as important as the movies themselves.

Mercedes CL 500 to be anniversary edition

This summer marks the centennial of when Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft and Benz & Cie separately registered their company logos in 1909. In celebration of the occasion, Mercedes has revealed a CL 500 “100 years of the trademark” anniversary edition. Daimler's was the Mercedes Star, while Benz's was “Benz” set in the center of a laurel wreath.

Fisker to show Surf shooting brake at Frankfurt

Fisker will show a new Karma-based shooting brake called Surf at the 2011 Frankfurt motor show. This is the first picture of the Fisker Surf, issued after CAR broke the news of the shooting brake earlier in the week. Customers of the Karma have been disappointed by the boot space – pinched by the bulky batteries and range-extender hardware – so Henrik Fisker's team has designed a new shooting brake to offer an expanded luggage hold while retaining the grace of the four-door coupe.