Diecast Audi A5 Sportback Blue on 2040-parts.com

UPDATED: Honda hints at new European advanced design studio

On the eve of the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show, Honda Design's Creative Director, Toshinobu Minami, announced that the company is looking to once again open a design facility in Europe. The announcement came during a presentation at the R&D Center in Waco, just outside the Japanese capital and, while not confirmed, Minami-san strongly hinted that the UK would be a likely candidate to play host to Honda's revitalized European design operations. He cited the country's existing manufacturing and administration facilities, as well as a wealth of new talent from the Royal College of Art in particular.

McLaren 12C Spider teased

McLaren has started to tease the 12C Spider – the convertible 12C – ahead of full details in the next few days. We’ve know that a convertible version of the McLaren MP4-12C – the 12C Spider – has been on the way for some time, but now it’s almost here. We thought McLaren would just come out and introduce the 12C Spider, but they can’t resist teasing, although we wonder if  McLaren might be trying to take some of the gloss off the UK debut of the Ferrari 458 Spider at Goodwood this weekend by revealing the 12C Spider before the end of the Goodwood weekend?.

July 23: Planning for the trip

Having an EV with a range of 50-70 miles sometimes requires innovation. It certainly requires some planning. Today I had to drive 83.7 miles for, of all things, a ride in the Oscar Meyer Wienermobile.