Danforth Quest Compass C103 on 2040-parts.com

Chris Bangle resigns as BMW Group Design Director

BMW today announced that Chris Bangle is resigning from his position as Head of Design for the BMW Group. Bangle will be handing over his post to current Head of BMW Automobile Design, Adrian van Hooydonk, when he leaves the company to pursue his own design-related endeavors outside the auto industry. Bangle has worked closely with van Hooydonk at BMW Group Design Development for nearly 17 years.

IIHS names safest cars for 2013

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has named the safest cars for 2013, including 13 midsize sedans that qualify for a new “top safety pick+” designation. The designation is given to vehicles that earn “good” ratings for occupant protection in at least four of five tests, with no less than “acceptable” in the fifth test. A new test -- the small overlap test -- was added to assess how the vehicles perform during a front-corner collision with another vehicle or object, such as a utility pole.

Audi RS6 Avant makes £120,000 for Elton John Charity

Elton John & David Furnish pictured with the Audi RS6 Avant auctioned for EJAF. Audi has a history of donating cars for auction at Elton John’s annual White Tie & Tiara Ball, and this year it was an RS6 Avant. But it wasn’t just any old Audi RS6 Avant, it was an RS6 with an interior signed by Audi-driving Hollywood start Gwyneth Paltrow.