Mercedes W114 W115 Trunk Latch on 2040-parts.com

Register now for the 2013 Interior Motives Design Awards ceremony

Registration is now open to attend the glamorous Interior Motives Design Awards 2013 ceremony at Moon 13 (formerly The Cocoon Club) in Frankfurt on 9 September, the eve of the first Frankfurt motor show press day. The finalists will be revealed in front of some of the most influential figures in car design, while partygoers will be able to view the projects in person and relax over a drink and food with their colleagues. Awards will be given in the following eight categories: Best eco interior Best use of technology Best innovative interior Best ergonomics Best conceptual interior Best production interior Best conceptual exterior Best artistic visualization The winner of each category receives $500 in prize money, and one student (or group of students) will walk away with the accolade of Interior Motives Student Designer of the Year, which carries with it a prize of $5,000.

BMW announces 2009 7 Series Diesel

BMW has announced that it will, as expected, be launching the diesel version of the 2009 7 Series next year. This is in addition to the two petrol engined models already scheduled. Even at this luxury end of the market, the diesel engine has become a must-have for car makers.

New Porsche 911 Speedster reportedly in the works

When European-car importer Max Hoffman suggested to Porsche that the American audience might like a cheaper, open-top version of the company's 356, Stuttgart responded with the Speedster. And while every Porsche partisan is a special snowflake -- some love road-going racers like the 904, others can't imagine life without a roof-rack-equipped 912, others go gaga for anything with a legit, lift-off Targa top, and some folks just really, really, really love 924s -- the Speedster's the light, lovable kid brother for which any fan of the marque has a measure of affection. Porsche knows it, and as such, they've introduced limited Speedster models of every 911 series since the 3.2 Carrera -- except for the oft-maligned 996 (which is still loved by its proponents, IMS-bearing issues aside).