Beck/arnley Air Filter 042-1599 on 2040-parts.com

Italian firm buys stake in Aston Martin

The former owner of Italian motorcycle maker Ducati has bought a 37.5-percent stake in financially strapped British car maker Aston Martin. The move means future Astons could use modern drivelines and electric architectures from Mercedes-Benz's AMG division, insiders with knowledge of the deal suggest. Private equity fund Investindustrial has signed a memorandum of understanding with current Aston Martin owner Investment Dar of Kuwait that will see it pay $240 million (150 million pounds) for the ownership stake.

Panoz launches newest sports car, the Abruzzi

The spirit of Le Mans--along with the spirit of the out-of-production Panoz Esperante--lives on in Panoz Auto Development's latest creation, the Abruzzi. Named for the people from the south-central Abruzzo region of Italy, the Abruzzi draws its inspiration from the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where the car is making its world debut on Tuesday, and its styling from the 1935 Delahaye Type 135 tear-drop coupe. "It is about the true spirit of Le Mans, a car you can drive from home to the racetrack, race it, and then drive home again," Panoz chairman and American Le Mans Series owner Don Panoz said.

2015 Michelin Challenge Design Automotive Press Association design panel

The Automotive Press Association (APA) Design Panel is the first of several milestones in the annual Michelin Challenge Design (MCD) calendar of events. In keeping with the 2015 MCD Theme of Drive Your Passion: Engaging Senses, Soul and Emotion, this year's panel discussion focused the importance of passion in vehicle design in the high-tech, highly-constrained future. Hosted on 7 May 2014 at the Detroit Athletic Club, over 80 people attended the APA members-only event sponsored by Michelin Challenge Design.