1970-72 Chevelle El Camino Monte Carlo Ss Metal Gauge Housing Ss 454 on 2040-parts.com

Design Essay: Are smart roads just around the corner?

In order to remain relevant, the car must constantly evolve. But while almost all attention focuses on four wheels, the roads that facilitate an automobile's progress have remained relatively unaltered since Eisenhower formed the National Highway system in the 1950s. With environmental concerns getting ever higher on the agenda, there is an opportunity to think outside the (metal) box and rethink the road, making it as smart as the vehicles and devices that travel upon it.

Kia Cross GT SUV Concept arrives ahead of reveal in Chicago

Kia has revealed their concept for a new large SUV – the Kia Cross GT Concept – ahead of a reveal at the Chicago Auto Show. Underpinning the Cross GT are the same underpinnings the impressive Kia GT Concept we saw at Frankfurt in 2011 had, to create a new SUV that is a chunk bigger than the Sorento (213mm longer with a wheelbase 399mm more) but, thanks to a swooping roofline, is 41mm lower. Power for the Hybrid Cross GT comes from a 3.8 litre petrol V6 and an electric motor which produce around 400bhp and 500lb/ft of torque, driven to all four wheels through an eight-speed auto ‘box.

Antique Automobile Club of America displays car collecting and its finest in Hershey

Searching for vintage car parts, literature, gas station collectables, or even a nice old car? The best place to look is the annual Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) Fall National Meet, better known as “Hershey.” Now in its 55th year, it's the world's largest old car gathering, with an 1,800-car concours, more than 1,000 cars for sale in the “car corral,” and, best of all, an astounding 9,000 flea market spaces, chock full of more automotive artifacts than you can imagine, all scattered in no particular order on 85-plus acres--that's nearly 90 football fields--or “22 miles of aisles,” as Hershey devotees say. It takes a lot of walking, but walk we did for four days, for a close-up of this fascinating offshoot of the old-car hobby.