Vrsc Vrod Paint Set on 2040-parts.com

Aston Martin Vantage upgraded for 2012

Aston Martin's Vantage receives upgrades for 2012, with the base Vantage V8 getting the most attention. The Vantage V8 retains the 4.7-liter, 420-hp V8 and six-speed manual as standard equipment, but it now will be offered with the optional seven-speed Sportshift II from the Vantage S. The automatic transmission has closer ratios, a lower final drive ratio and quicker shifts than the previous Sportshift unit.

Video: FiDU technology creating lightweight, inflatable metal structures

This short video, featuring designer Oskar Zieta, details the process and design possibilities behind products developed with FiDU (Freie Innendruck Umformung – "free internal pressure forming") technology. Zieta, a Polish designer, explains how the lightweight yet robust metal appears as a soft object yet when you touch it you realize that it is actually a hard metal. "Working with FIDU technology is similar to carving clay," Zieta explains.

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'.