Audi A3, S3 Navigation System Mmi on 2040-parts.com

Michelin Challenge Design - Deadline for entries April 16

You Can Design America's Next Iconic Vehicle Michelin Challenge Design - the global transportation design competition in its ninth year - is looking for America's next iconic vehicle.  Submissions for the 2009 program will be accepted through April 16, 2008. The winning designs will be evaluated for their uniqueness, emotional appeal, design courage and technical execution by a jury of automotive design professionals and receive prominent display in the MCD exhibit at the 2009 North American International Auto Show. See the video (left) for more information, including interviews with the previous winners and jurors.

Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid: Production to double to cope with demand

It’s particularly appealing if you like a car with a decent turn of speed – the V60 will do 0-62mph in 6.1 seconds – like the reassurance and practicality of 4WD – the V60′s electric motor drives the back wheels – drive in to London on a regular basis – the 48g/km emissions are congestion charge free – and get taxed as BIK from your company. If all those apply – and you already appreciate the Volvo V60 is a very good car to start with – then the V60 plug-in hybrid is a bit of a no-brainer, even with a headline price of nearly £50k (which gets within £6k of an equivalent non plug-in after the taxpayer has chipped in). It seems that many buyers agree, and Volvo is being inundated with orders.

Vehicles connect at Michigan International Speedway

The Michigan Department of Transportation and Michigan International Speedway have joined forces to help in the development of a connected-vehicle system. In the future, it will help cars communicate with each other on the road to avoid crashes and increase safety. The speedway, located in Brooklyn, Mich., will allow organizations such as the Connected Vehicle Proving Center and the Center for Automotive Research to use the track as a test road for the new technology.