Amb Tranx 260 Dp on 2040-parts.com

Vencer launch sports car design contest

Vencer has launched a new interactive design contest that offers cash prizes and the unique opportunity to see the winning design developed into the automaker's next model. The Dutch supercar maker, which has produced just one model to date, the Vencer Sarthe, decided to start a worldwide community-driven development of a new car during the design process for the Sarthe, which formed the basis for this contest. On 13 December 2013 at 13.00 CET, Vencer will establish the participants with the most ‘likes' amongst those who met the conditions.

New Mercedes S Class to use Maybach badge on top models?

Will the top-end Mercedes S-Class models get the Maybach badge? (S63 AMG pictured) Having tried to bring the Maybach badge back from the history books and build a car to compete with Rolls Royce, Mercedes finally admitted it hadn’t worked last year and called time on their Maybach adventure. But having spent untold millions on reviving the Maybach name – and giving it public awareness – it seems Mercedes may not be prepared to shelve the Maybach name completely as there seem to be plans afoot to badge the extra long Mercede S Class with the Maybach badge.

Ford Escort returns – for China: Shanghai Motor Show

The Ford Escort Concept has been built by Ford with the aim of taking a sizeable chunk of China’s compact saloon market – estimated at 5.5 million sales a year – and looks remarkably production viable and far from ‘budget’. Escort is a badge China knows – there are plenty of old Escorts floating around Chinese roads – so it’s a sensible move by Ford to revive a badge that already resonates as a compact, affordable saloon with Chinese car buyers. This new Escort gets a proper version of Ford’s latest design language – including the Aston Martin grill – and has good lines and strong detail including jeweled headlights with the lucky Chinese ’8′ discernible ; it looks entirely cohesive and nothing like a Focus with a boot grafted on.