Firstgear Thermo Winter Motorcycle Oversuit Black/grey Xl on 2040-parts.com

Happy 80th Birthday, Syd Mead!

Take a poll among car designers to name their greatest influence, and one name is sure to appear at the top of the list: Syd Mead. The car designer, illustrator and futurist has inspired generations of the men and women who shape the cars we drive or admire. Syd has created the designs for the movies Blade Runner and Tron, while the illustrations published in his books such as Oblagon and Sentury (sought-after collector items today) depict the vision of a future dominated by superior technology and aesthetics.

Visteon reveals e-Bee 2020 mobility concept

Visteon has unveiled its new e-Bee concept at the Electronica 2012 Trade Fair in Munich. The e-Bee is a study of mobility in the year 2020 and explores alternative transport ideas such as car-sharing and short-term rental as well as intelligent mobility. Predictable vehicle architecture is transformed by moving the climate system outside, reducing the e-Bee's weight, increasing the cabin space as well as providing easier access to comfort and infotainment features.

New Toyota Auris starts rolling out at Burnaston

The new 2013 Toyota Auris – Toyota’s modern Corolla – has commenced production at the Toyota plant in Burnaston. Toyota revealed the new Auris back in August – ahead of a public debut at the Paris Motor Show – which, although pretty much the previous Auris when you dig deep, does offer a more dynamic look and the promise of better driving dynamics too. With the new Auris a big deal for Toyota in Europe, Toyota are trumpeting the start of Auris production in Burnaston and have rolled out Vince Cable, Secretary of State for Business, to mark the occasion.