Yamaha 700 Rhino / Grizzly Starter Motor on 2040-parts.com

Brabus tunes the Mercedes-Benz SLK for more power, better handling

Mercedes-Benz tuner Brabus is going to work on the new SLK200 and SLK250 roadsters, adding some power, exterior modifications and suspension upgrades. The four-cylinder SLKs aren't for sale in the United States right now, but the SLK250 is scheduled to arrive by February 2012. Currently no kits are offered for the V6-powered SLK350.

Frank Stephenson on the importance of color in design

During the announcement of the McLaren Automotive's partnership with paints and coatings company, AkzoNobel, Car Design News took the opportunity to discuss the importance of color in design with design director Frank Stephenson. According to Stephenson color's ability to invoke emotions and communicate with viewers, he described just how big a part it has to play in the design process and how it inspires designers when developing products. "The first thing color does is influence the brand – it gives the customer an identifiable element to what we're talking about.

Ford eyes dandelions as sustainable alternative to synthetic rubber

Ford, in conjunction with Ohio State University, is turning to the humble garden weed as sustainable resource, researching the dandelion's potential use as an alternative to synthetic rubber. While the automaker already makes considerable use of sustainable materials in its vehicles – such as soy foam seat cushions and straw-filled plastic for interior trim – this latest discovery opens up a wealth of new possibilities for automotive applications. According to research conducted by Ford, a milky-white substance that is found in certain dandelion roots can produce a sustainable rubber that could be used to create plastic parts for vehicle interiors.