Raymarine M81190 Compass Fluxgate on 2040-parts.com

Chevrolet Sonic at the 2011 Detroit auto show

One of GM's numerous debuts at the 2011 Detroit auto show was this: the Chevrolet Sonic. Shown as a hatchback and four-door notchback, it's one of The General's weapons to tackle the now-globalised Ford Fiesta and its ilk. Good spot. That's because this is the US-spec Aveo - albeit shown in US-only notchback form as well as the more Euro-flavoured hatchback.

Volvo S60 R-Design & V60 R-Design launched

Volvo S60 R-Design Both the Volvo S60 and the Volvo V60 are new in 2010, and both illustrate that Volvos are no longer just safe, boring boxes. They’re actually quite stylish in a grown-up, subtle kind of way. But Volvo thinks there’s a market for their ’60s’ with bolt on go-faster bits, so we’re treated to the Volvo S60 R-Design and the V60 R-Design.

Design Sevices: MCE Design Workshops

Independent design studio Motorcity Europe (MCE) is launching another series of two- and five-day design workshops aimed at broadening the skills, experience and job prospects of anyone working - or looking to work - within the field of automotive design. Based on the massive success of the MCE Summer Seminars, these follow up workshops in February 2010 will be an intensely improved version, open to all skill levels of design. Top sponsors including Autodesk, Wacom and RLE Int'l will also be supporting this event.