Mopar Window Crank Handle #1602540 on 2040-parts.com

Starting Out: Portfolio Development

Setting out your portfolio can seem like an endless task; as soon as you finish one, it's time to start over with the latest stuff, a cycle that often continues beyond design school. To give you a few pointers on how to go about it, Car Design News spoke with agents from recruiting agencies and designers in America and Europe for advice.  First and foremost: the content. For young designers, high sketching skill is paramount -and lots of it.

Volvo tuner Polestar reveals production S60 and V60 models

It's not every day that we can tell you about a performance-tuned station wagon that is actually coming to the U.S., but today is one of those rare days. Volvo racing and aftermarket tuning specialist Polestar has revealed details of their production versions of the V60 wagon and the S60 sedan, which are bound for the U.S. The S60 and V60's 3.0-liter T6 engine has been tuned to produce 350 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, which is said to give it a 0 to 62 mph time of 4.9 seconds, on the way to an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph.

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.