New Passengers Headlight Headlamp Assembly Dot Stamped 02-04 Toyota Camry on 2040-parts.com

Volkswagen iBeetle takes iPhone integration to another level

When we’re all walking round with Smartphones that possess the sort of computing power only a major desktop could offer just a few years ago, it makes sense for car makers to tap in to that power to control functionality and Infotainment in their cars. Which is why Volkswagen has rolled out the iBeetle at this week’s Shanghai Motor Show with a level of integration with Smartphones from Apple, and that previews a roll-out of Apple integration from VW, offering far more functionality and control than we’ve seen before. Or at least that’s the VW claim.

Jaguar XF Sportbrake: An inside look at the Sportbrake’s design +video

Jaguar XF Sportbrake - an inside look at the design Jaguar design boss Ian Callum and Studio Director Wayne Burgess walk us through the new XF Sportbrake and its design. We’ve had endless stuff on the new Jaguar XF Sportbrake over the last few months – and even more since Jaguar officially revealed the XF Sportbrake ahead of its Geneva debut – so we thought we’d had a bit of ‘Sportbrake Overload’ going on, however good we think the new XF is. So when we got this video of Jaguar design boss Ian Callum and Studio Director Wayne Burgess doing a talking-heads walkthrough on the Sportbrake we thought we might pass.

Audi TT ultra quattro concept sheds 300kg & heads for Worthersee

The TT ultra quattro concept manages to tip the scales at 1111kg, 299kg less than the starting point – the TT S quattro – thanks to a new version of the TT’s aluminium space frame, carbon fibre reinforced plastic panels, carbon fibre for many body panels and some judicious use of magnesium. Other weight saving tricks include carbon ceramic brakes with aluminium calipers, titanium exhaust, cameras instead of heavy door mirror mechanisms, and carbon fibre and aluminium wheels. The weight saving extends to the interior of the TT ultra quattro concept too, with carbon fibre used for the door and centre console trims and glass-fibre reinforced plastic base for the seats which saves 22kh alone. But despite the weight savings Audi hasn’t made the TT ultra quattro concept a hair shirt outing with goodies like leather seats, AirCon and electric windows still on offer.