K Source/fit System 70582t Door Mirror Driver Side on 2040-parts.com

Study finds customer satisfaction up slightly

U.S. customer satisfaction with vehicles industrywide has increased slightly, fueled by gains among Asian and European automakers, according to an annual report released by the American Customer Satisfaction Index on Tuesday. Overall satisfaction with the auto industry climbed 1.2 percent from 2010 to 83.

Aston Martin launches Centenary Editions of DB9, Vantage, Vanquish & Rapide

Aston Martin celebrates its centenary with Centenary Edition versions of their entire range featuring special paint finish and bespoke interiors. One hundred years ago today, Aston Martin arrived as Bamford & Martin as Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford formed the company which would, just a year later, become Aston Martin, and to celebrate the centenary Aston Martin is creating 100 Centenary Editions of each of its model range (although not, it seems, the Cygnet). All the centenary Edition cars (V8 Vantage, DB9, Rapide and Vanquish) will feature a unique graduated paint finish and get adorned with solid sterling silver wing badges (don’t park your Centenary Edition Aston Martin in a public car park with the current price of silver) with tailored ‘Trans Flux’ enamel inlay.

Concept Car of the Week: Renault Altica (2006)

Back in 2006 Renault was still well into its design-leadership stride, if perhaps not for much longer. The Altica concept, shown at that year's Geneva motor show, showcased all the French brand had to offer at that time – a brilliantly brave, architectural interior, a style that could only be associated with its country of origin and an interior that thoroughly questioned and readdressed layout, control and format. It also served to preview the renaissance of the Shooting Brake that the industry is still experiencing.