Jensen 5 1/4" High Performance 2-way Speakers on 2040-parts.com

LA Design Challenge 2009

The LA Auto Show has just announced the competitors in its 6th annual Design Challenge. The entries - coming from the Southern California design studios of Audi, General Motors, Mazda, Nissan and Toyota - all revolve around a set theme which asked designers to envision the ultimate ‘youthmobile' for the year 2030. Automobiles have always played an important role in Southern California, enhancing the social lives of youth and acting as a means of self expression.

Craigslist catch: 1986 Lotus Turbo Esprit

For the masochistic car enthusiast--and many of us here at AutoWeek count ourselves among that breed--nothing is sure to tantalize and frustrate quite as nicely as a Lotus. Not just any Lotus, mind you, but a peaky, force-fed, emissions-saddled 1986 Turbo Esprit. The example shown here, http://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/ctd/2318628863.html, appears to be a fine specimen of Giguaro's wedgy Brit, and the rear-quarter decals indicate that this is a late HCi model--high-compression plus Bosch fuel injection.

From Cape Town to London -- in a Fiat Panda

If we wanted to break the speed record for the run from Cape Town, South Africa to London -- a quick 10,000-mile jaunt -- we'd start out by scouring the classifieds for something big and rugged. A Land Rover would be a classic choice, but a tricked-out Toyota or Jeep could do nicely as well. A team consisting of British rally drivers Philip Young and Paul Brace are taking a somewhat different approach.