Studebaker, Stant, Breather Cap, Used. Item: 8560 on 2040-parts.com

Behind The Scenes: Hot Wheels Design Studio [w/Video]

Hot Wheels' vice president of design Felix Holst has spent some time chatting to Cool Hunting about the brand's design philosophy at its Design Studio at Mattel's headquarters in El Segundo, California, in a new video. According to Holst Hot Wheels has evolved from being focused on muscle cars and V8 engines to being all about technology as a reflection of the new generation they're designing for.  He explains the benefits of designing over 240 vehicles a year that aren't limited by rules and regulations, saying in a studio that's driven by pushing the boundaries, it's a question of just how wild they can get.  The video really captures not only the men's passion for their jobs but the fun they have doing it. Small wonder Holst says he'd never go back to car design, and reveals the studio is packed with qualified car designers who chose Hot Wheels over conventional jobs in the industry.  We also hear from Hot Wheels Car Maker's designer Julian Payne, who explains how the new Car Maker – which gives you the chance to mold your own custom Hot Wheels at home – works.

Aston Martin AM 310 Vanquish

Aston Martin has released details of its 2013 AM 310 Vanquish, the modern interpretation of its classic luxury sports car which is set to replace the DBS. One-77 design cues such as the flowing waistline and LED light blade rear clusters and new design elements such as the lift-reducing rear Aero Duct, bonnet vents, sculpted roof and side strakes feature. A splitter, light-catching side skirts and a rear diffuser form a near-continuous ring of exposed carbon fiber at the base of the car.

Range Rover Evoque RS250 Dark Tungsten by Kahn heading for Carfest

Another take on the Range Rover Evoque by Kahn Design – the RS 250 Dark Tungsten – is heading for Chris Evans’ Carfest South. Kahn Design revealed their take on the Range Rover Evoque – the RS250 Vesuvius Copper – last month, but they’ve decided another take on the same theme is needed to showcase at Chris Evans’ petrolhead extravaganza – Carfest South. So this time we get an Evoque with a more appealing  Dark Tungsten Metallic paint job with ‘KAHN’ lettering on the bonnet, new bumpers with mesh inserts, lower boot spoiler, chin spoiler, matt black highlights, gloss black boot trim, p[rivacy glass, big upper rear wing, diffuser and a nice set of 22" RS600 alloys.