Bmw E53 X5 Left Grille Chromed Black 2000-04 on 2040-parts.com

Inside the Lexus LFA Centre of Excellence

Inside the Lexus LFA Centre of Excellence The Lexus LFA is like no other Lexus – and, in many ways, unlike any other supercar – so Lexus make sure the 38 LFAs in Europe get the specialist care they need. Lexus has established a Centre of Excellence for the LFA in Cologne where a team of LFA experts make sure that every LFA in the UK and Europe gets treated just like a Le Mans car when it comes in for servicing. That means removing body panels to get access to the suspension, steering and subframe, every nut and bolt double checked, fingertip inspection of the discs and pads, x-rays to check for wear and detailed inspection of the CFRP bodyshell as well as normal stuff like oil and filter changes.

The Designers, Pt.12 – Ed Welburn, General Motors

Car Design News launched its first-ever Car Design Review yearbook at the Geneva Motor Show, featuring the award-winning Production Car and Concept Car Designs of 2013. If you're interested in buying a copy of the 160-page yearbook this interview appears in, alongside trend reports, bespoke car design infographics and a special feature on Marcello Gandini, our inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award winner, Car Design Review can be purchased here. Name Ed WelburnRole General Motors VP global designAge, nationality 63, USLocation Michigan, USAEducation Howard University "From a car-design-industry perspective, 2013 was good but not great.

Kia Optima T-Hybrid concept revealed ahead of Paris debut

Kia Optima T-Hybrid concept revealed ahead of Paris debut It looks like Kia is ready to push the start button on a new range of mild hybrids with the reveal of the Kia Optima T-Hybrid concept ahead of its debut later this week at the 2014 Paris Motor Show. The new mild hybrid powertrain isn’t going to make an enormous difference to power or economy, but in a world where taxation gets based on official CO2 figures it will make the Optima more appealing to company car buyers. The Optima hybrid gets the normal 1.7 litre diesel engine and adds a small electric motor powered by a 48V lead-carbon battery which will be enough for short running at low speeds on electric power alone or allow some electric ‘cruising’ on motorways.