Dura International Br900794 Rear Solid Brake Rotor on 2040-parts.com

Volkswagen launches Car-Net in-car assistance system

Volkswagen has launched an in-car assistance system which will offer a number of convenience and diagnostic features. Not too dissimilar from some other systems already on the market -- such as BMW Assist, Mercedes-Benz'sMbrace, and GM's On-Star -- VW's system will offer roadside assistance, service appointment scheduling, and automatic crash notification. The latter triggers a call from the vehicle to a Car-Net customer specialist when the airbags in the car are deployed, which will then connect the occupants with a local public safety answering point, which can send emergency vehicles to the scene if needed.

College Exhibition: Creapole MA Degree Show 2011

Creapole Design School – 'Ecole de Creation Management' as it refers to itself – has just held its annual Masters Week exhibition at its central Parisian premises. The focus of this year's show is 'intelligent technology', proposing alternative propulsion systems for the transport of tomorrow, from the urban to the aquatic, from the functional to the fictional. The challenge for these young designers is to take these new technologies and apply them in an attractive, meaningful and human way.

Maybach reaches end of the line

Daimler AG is set to announce the closure of its Maybach ultra luxury brand this weekend, according to reports. The underperforming 57 and 62 limousines are to be killed off in 2013, following a decision from chairman Dieter Zetsche who has elected not to invest in their respective replacements for 2014. Following a concept car preview at the 1997 Tokyo motor show, Maybach was resurrected in 2002 after Daimler AG failed to purchase either Rolls-Royce or Bentley from then owners, Vickers.