1957-8 Dodge 325 Hemi Pistions on 2040-parts.com

Michelin design contest inspires young minds

The College for Creative Studies in Detroit held its 24th Michelin Design challenge, in which Michelin sponsors a design and development project for one of CCS' transportation design classes. The competition works like this: CCS and Michelin get together to develop a theme, then CCS picks which transportation design class will work on the project. The idea, Michelin says, is to celebrate and promote the kind of vehicle design that highlights original thinking and innovation.

Honda Urban SUV Concept tease previews new baby Honda SUV

Honda has revealed a single sketch of an Urban SUV Concept that will debut at the Detroit Auto Show and previews a new baby SUV. The compact SUV, and sub-compact SUV market are growing strongly as car buyers eschew traditional small saloons and hatchbacks in favour of something perceived as a bit more rugged and more able to negotiate the urban jungle. So the tease photos of the Honda Urban SUV Concept – which will debut at the Detroit Auto Show in January 2013 – is pointing directly at a new baby Honda SUV likely to hit car showrooms in a couple of years time, and likely to be based on the new Honda Jazz.

VW & Porsche could become Auto Union

It looks like Porsche and VW may come together under the Auto Union banner. Of course, all these shenanigans have come about because of Porsche’s desire to gobble up VW. The plan looked great, and Porsche grabbed a big chunk of VW stock.