S & G Tool-aid: Top Dead Center Indicator. #33650 on 2040-parts.com

BMW 5 Series GT (w/ Video)

BMW officially took the wraps off the production version 5 Series Gran Turismo today. The new model, previewed in concept form at the Geneva motor show in March, is set to bridge the gap between the automaker's X5 SUV and the 5 Series Touring wagon. As we expected, BMW has remained true to form: the 5 Series GT is identical to the design of its concept precursor, including a lower body section and taillamps that call to mind the latest BMW 7 Series, a front end reminiscent of the CS concept, and an upper cabin design familiar to anyone who's seen an X6.  The interior has seen the most change, if only in color and trim.

Jaguar Land Rover Special Operations division launches

Cars like the Jaguar F-Type Project 7 (pictured) will come from JLR’s Special Operations If the creation of the Jaguar Land Rover Special Operations division to create bespoke, heritage, ultra luxury and high performance Jaguar, Land Rover and Range Rover cars doesn’t shout how positive JLR are about the future, nothing will. Jaguar call it “meeting the increasing expectations of today’s most discerning and enthusiastic car customers“, but what they really mean is that JLR have now got so much back on their game with cars like the new Jaguar F-Type, new Range Rover and new Range Rover Sport that they now have buyers with deep enough pockets to pay for just about anything, so that’s what JLR are going to do with the Special Operations division; give them anything they want – at a price That will mean car like the Jaguar Project 7 F-Type we saw at Goodwood last year being possible, ultra-luxury versions of the Range Rover and even the creation of heritage cars like the new Lightweight E-Types could become a regular occurrence. With a team of engineers and and designers led by Paul Newsome, recently recruited from Williams Advance Engineering, the plan is to create halo vehicles for both the Jaguar and Land Rover brands, and a team of 150 at a new Technical Centre near Gaydon will have a customer commissioning suite for bespoke and premium personalisation.

Four CCS students win awards in 22nd annual Michelin/CCS competition

Michelin and the College for Creative Studies (CCS) in Detroit, Michigan recently held their 22nd Annual College for Creative Studies Design Competition at the A. Alfred Taubman Center for Design Education. Four CCS transportation students are receiving the exhibition opportunity of a lifetime when their winning designs are displayed in a special Michelin exhibit at the 2011 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) January 10-23, 2011.