Distributor. Gear Volvo Penta. 3854560 on 2040-parts.com

Lotus to create 100 new jobs (2013)

Lotus is bouncing back from the five-car plan debacle that saw its CEO Dany Bahar dismissed for professional misconduct, and an ambitious plot to launch a Porsche-slaying five-car range go up in smoke without so much a test mule spy shot. The Norfolk-based outfit has announced today the creation of 103 new jobs to meet rising demand not just for its cars, but the brand’s legendary car set-up skills too. It follows a £100m investment from parent DRB-HICOM earlier in 2013.

Smart Forspeed concept signals new design direction

Smart will unveil a new concept at the forthcoming Geneva motor show that signals a new design direction, hints at future product and confirms parent company Daimler's renewed commitment to the brand. Car Design News was granted early access to the concept, baptized Forspeed, at a secret photography studio in Stuttgart last week and heard the head of advanced design, Steffen Kohl, explain how the two-seat, electric-powered vehicle prefaces design themes in both the next Fortwo and the revived Forfour, which will be launched in 2014. "The fullness of this concept's exterior surfaces is important and will be reflected in future production models," said Kohl, "Smart will still be short, spacey, agile, and with wheels at the corners of the car, but with an added sporty and emotional design and without losing all the brand's iconic elements like its ‘plastic fantastic' aspect and the safe and hi-tech modular tridion shell assembled with all these changeable body parts.

BMW and Zagato tease next collaboration

BMW has teased the first image of its BMW Zagato roadster, the second collaboration between the automaker and the Italian design studio, which is set to be unveiled this weekend at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. Earlier this year at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este in Italy, BMW unveiled its Zagato-designed coupe, which featured the carrozeria's signature double-bubble roof, the high, fastback Kamm tail and full, blown surfaces. The BMW Zagato Coupé was the first collaboration between Zagato and BMW, and was the first Italian-designed car to wear the blue and white propeller since the 2003 Bertone Birusa.