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Pace cadets: At AMG academy, students take their finals with their right feet

Mercedes-Benz USA launched the AMG Challenge in 2002, a program touted as "a chance to experience the thrill of driving the newest Mercedes AMGs on some of America's best racetracks." This year, MBUSA abandoned the Challenge in favor of the AMG Driving Academy, a multistage driver-development program pioneered by AMG in Europe. The difference? According to Greg Clark, AMG manager, "the Challenge was more about the cars, while the Academy is more about the driver." Having participated in both the Challenge and now the Academy, we'd say that difference is subtle, at least as it applies to the one-day program.

College Exhibition: IED Degree Show 2008

Graduating students at the Istituto Europeo di Design of Turin (IED) recently completed a project created in association with BMW. The projects, presented at an exhibition entitled ‘Designing the BMW of 2015', followed a brief to design a car by interpreting the language evolution and the trademark essence in view of the company's future perspectives. Students were asked to research the needs, tastes and lifestyle of 35 year old individual in 2025 and find inspiration in natural elements (sun, sea, wind and earth) and in forms of expression (music, painting and art).

Stop-Start Freelander on the way

Land Rover has announced that it will be introducing stop-start technology on its Freelander range from May 2009, thus saving around 8% on the Co2 emissions, and taking the Freelander down a group on VED, which should help move a few more Freelanders off forecourts next year. The technology for the stop-start was developed in-house, with a new engine management system coming from Bosch and an uprated starter from Denso. The stop-start option will be available on the 2.2 TD4, which accounts for nearly half of UK sales.