2004 Hot Rod Magazine Sept Rat Rod Hot Rod Kustom on 2040-parts.com

Relive Volvo's 'Emotion of Design' Google Hangout

If you missed out on Volvo's ‘Emotion of Design' Google Hangout, which was broadcast on Volvo's YouTube channel on 28 November, you can relive it here. The Hangout, which featured Volvo's exterior design chief Maximilian Missoni, neuropsychologist Dr David Lewis and Wallpaper magazine's automotive correspondent Jonathan Bell, discussed the results of the Swedish carmaker's experiment to measure the emotional response to the Volvo Concept Coupé – among other things – using an electroencephalographic (EEG) machine. Participants were asked to rate a series of images while wearing an EEG headset measuring brainwave activity, with results showing that car design and emotions were inexorably linked.

Ford eases V6 Mustang around Bristol track for 1,457 laps

As you may have expected, the team at Ford was able to run a V6-powered 2011 Mustang for at least 1,000 laps on the half-mile Bristol Motor Speedway track on Wednesday before running out of gasoline. In fact, the Mustang lapped Bristol 1,457 times before its 16-gallon fuel tank ran dry. The run was part of a marketing push touting the 31-mpg highway rating for the 2011 Mustang V6 and its six-speed automatic transmission.

Kia K9 sedan, camouflaged Sportage spied testing

Kia was doing a bit of vehicle testing around Mammoth Lake, Calif., last weekend, and Autoweek reader Kristoffer Gjevre was there to capture the convoy. His photos show a camouflaged small SUV/ crossover and a completely undisguised K9 sedan backed up by Hyundai Santa Fe and Veloster support vehicles. Based on the roofline and A, B and C pillars, that small crossover appears to be a Kia Sportage -- and the heavy concealment at the front and rear of the vehicle suggest updated fascias may be in the works.