Auto Meter 7096 Gauge Pod on 2040-parts.com

Seat Leon Cupra 280 breaks Nürburgring lap record (2014)

By Ollie Kew Motor Industry 05 March 2014 11:00 You’re looking at the fastest front-wheel drive car ever to lap the Nürburgring Nordschleife: the Seat Leon Cupra 280. A paddleshift DSG-equipped three-door example has lapped the 12-mile lap in 7min 58.44sec – smashing the previous record of 8min 7.97sec, held by the Renaultsport Megane Trophy. It's a slap in Honda's face too: the Japanese maker wanted its new Civic Type-R to be the first sub-8min hatch.

Winners of the Car Design Awards China winners describe their internships

With the 2015 Car Design Awards China now launched and open to entries, we caught up with some of the winners of the 2014 edition to find out about their current internships.Four of those we spoke to had the unique opportunity to pack their bags and head west to Detroit’s CCS college in the US to take part in its annual Cultural Immersion Workshop, while two others were placed in the Shanghai studios of Geely and Qoros. 阅读中文请点击这里Here they describe the highlights of their experiences so far, in their own words: Name Guo JiayiInternship CCS, Detroit USAge 23Home town BeijingSchool CAFA (Central Academy of Fine Arts) "The most interesting part of my internship was working with professional designers from different countries, exchanging ideas and learning from each other. Each of us has a different point of view and style, so looking at the combination of the American and other cultures is very interesting.

All-new MINI dashboard goes mainstream (spy photo)

The all-new MINI – the third generation of the new MINI – is due later in 2013 and will be getting a more mainstream dashboard. Whatever you may think of the ‘new’ MINI – the one BMW make – it’s been a huge success. And it’s been a huge success because it’s managed to evoke the spirit of the original Issigonis Mini without being a pastiche.