Honda Acty 1999 Front Left Strut Assy [0050200] on 2040-parts.com

SPD and Volkswagen Group launch new program

The Scuola Politecnica di Design and Volkswagen Group Design are continuing their partnership on the Transportation and Car Design Masters by offering a program including scholarships and employment opportunities for the very best candidates. This project focuses on the theme of sustainable urban mobility as interpreted by Audi and Skoda. 20 million people are expected to visit Expo 2015 in Milan leading to congestion problems, and so VW Group wants to see a vehicle that is connected to the brand's concept of ‘freedom, versatility, and swift transport'.

BMW ready to shift small coupes, convertibles to even-number nameplates

Reports in Europe say that BMW is planning a shake-up in the naming strategy for its smaller coupes and convertibles, as well as planning to shift its 1-series cars onto a front-drive platform. The nameplate shake-up will have coupe and convertible variants of the 1-series become the 2-series, while coupe and convertible variants of the 3-series will become the 4-series. The changeover is expected to start in 2013, according to a report on the Web site of Car magazine.

Aston Martin showrooms go Hi-Tec

I’m not too sure it will help much with sales at the moment, but it has been announced that Aston Martin are to become the first company to use Microsoft’s Surface Device in UK Car showrooms. The Surface device is in essence a glitzy coffee table, with a built in PC running the new software from Microsoft. Based on the software Aston Martin currently uses on its website, the device allows the salesman to configure the car on a coffee table screen, with changes of colour and wheels showing on the screen.