�International Vehicle Design� was the theme for this years running of the Eyes on Design Automotive Exhibition in Grosse Pointe, Michigan this past weekend. Thousands of spectators and entries enjoyed the contrasting automotive designs from around the world that were on display. Eyes on Design is traditionally regarded as a small, but very unique show that is always stocked with a few surprises. Tatra, Jomar and Daniels are just a few of the interesting names spread out between classic Impalas, Jags and Dueseys. Small 60�s Toyotas contrasted well with the muscular 70�s American pony cars.
The stifling humid weather may have diminished some of the atmosphere but the supportive crowds appreciated all of the effort put into this grand fundraising event.
Our staff was in attendance to capture all of the action and present a full report and 125 shot slideshow.

Ferrari is most renowned for producing free revving V12 engines, but from the early 1950s the Italian manufacturer has produced a wide variety of engine configurations, ranging from a straight four to a flat 12. One of the rarest of these is the huge straight six unit found in the 121 LM, of which only three examples were constructed. Just like Ferrari, Porsche is very much linked to one engine configuration; the flat-6, but their latest racer, the LMP2, packs a newly designed 3.4 litre V8 engine. The launch of the new prototype racer is a very good indication that Porsche will once again fight for top honours at the Le Mans 24 Hours race. Already competing for class honours in the legendary endurance race is the Corvette C6.R, which successfully debuted at the French track last week.
In the 1950s American designers fell victim to the 'jet age' craze, which resulted in some of the wildest concept cars every constructed. One of the lesser known, but just as crazy, is the Cadillac Cyclone, which is equipped with radar cones and sliding doors. At the end of the 1920s American designers reached a different kind of peak, and constructed some of the finest luxury cars. These achievements were celebrated in this weekend's Eyes on Design Automotive Design Exhibition, of which a complete report will be published later this week. As a sneak preview we have already added one of the highlights of the show; the Marmon V16 Coupe Convertible.

This year's 24 Hours of Le Mans race was held this past weekend under very hot conditions. With the French Pescarolo team being the 'hot' favourites, a record crowd of 230,000 fans were on site to hopefully witness the first French victory since 1993. The blistering pace of the French cars was not enough however to take on the seasoned Audi R8, which scored its fifth and final victory on the imfamous track. To top it off, driver Tom Kristensen broke Jacky Ickx's record with his seventh Le Mans victory. Other notable news from Le Mans was the launch of a club racer version of the impressive Aston Martin DB9; the DBRS9, which will be built by Aston Martin Racing.
Hot news from Mercedes Benz hit our desks this morning; the German manufacturer released the first official pictures of the new S-Class. Subaru's key model, the Impreza, will also receive a major facelift, which should be in the showrooms early next year.
In contrast, we step back 70 years to the French coach builders of the late 1930s who specialized in designing very elegant and aerodynamic specimens. Most automotive enthusiasts will have heard of Figoni & Falaschi and Chapron, but Letourneur & Marchand is less likely to ring a bell. That's especially unfortunate since their absolutely stunning Aerosport Coupe design on Delage's D8-120 chassis ranks right up there with the finest designs of the decade.

Even before the Ferrari Enzo was officially launched in 2002, pictures of a racing version popped up once in a while. When the Maserati MC12 broke cover most of us assumed the disguised racing Enzos had evolved into the MC12. Until now that is, three years after the Enzo's debut Ferrari have published the first 'official pictures' of this mysterious racer. Dubbed the FXX, the new car is packed with new wings, vents and other aerodynamic aids. At first glance the body kit reminded us more of 1970s Can-Am racers than of anything modern. Ferrari claim the changes have increased the downforce by 40%. Handling is further optimized by the use of Bridgestone slicks. The big news is found under the engine cover where a 6.3 litre version of the Enzo's V12 engine can be found, which should be good for at least 800 hp. It's mated to an even faster version of Ferrari's much acclaimed paddle operated gearbox. Sadly the car is not homologated, and can only be used as a track day toy; Ferrari's very expensive answer to the popular Radicals.
As with the Enzo the potential buyers are screened by the factory, and only Ferrari's best customers will get a chance to purchase one of the 20 cars said to be produced.

History is written and reputations are made annually on the 13.650 km Le Mans course. Every year thousands of racing enthusiasts make the pilgrimage to the French track for the most important race of the season. Fifty cars set off at 4 PM on Saturday for a 24 hour marathon in search for the biggest win of their career. It all sounds very heroic, but in recent years there were usually only 3 or 4 cars (all Audis or Audi powered) in contention for the victory. Rule changes have slowly started to favour the next generation prototype racers, and will render the four time Le Mans winning Audi R8 obsolete at the end of this season. At last week's mandatory Test Day it became obvious that the Audis were no longer the fastest cars out there, which was not a big surprise. Real surprises were found in the other classes; especially the fast pace of the Aston Martins compared to the Corvettes caught the follower's attention.
We visited the Test Day and have compiled a complete and exclusive coverage with a full report and 150 shot slideshow that doubles as a review of the day's preceedings and a preview of the big race that starts this Saturday. We also take a closer look at our four favourites for the class victories; the Pescarolo Courage C60 Hybrid, the MG Lola EX264, the Aston Martin DBR9 and the Porsche 996 GT3 RSR.

It has been over decade since a Lotus last lined up for a Formula 1 Grand Prix, but the British manufacturer's contribution to the sport is a lasting one. More than any other team, Lotus revolutionized the sport; both with technical innovation and a new level of professionalism. It is no surprise that the single most successful F1 racer sported the legendary Lotus badge. With 20 victories, the Cosworth powered 72 was good for more than a quarter of all Lotus Grand Prix wins. By the end of its long life, it had added two driver's and three constructor's crowns to Lotus' tally. Honda is now a well established engine supplier in Formula 1, but the Japanese manufacturer's first attempt in F1 was with a complete car. In 1965 the manufacturer scored their only victory with the RA272, featuring a transversely mounted 1.5 litre V12 engine. Another form of motorsport well favoured by Japanese manufacturers is rallying. In the 1990s Mitsubishi was a dominant force in the World Rally Championship, but top finishes have eluded them in recent years. With the Lancer WRC05, the team has navigated their way back to the top
Tradition is Bristol's single biggest asset, and the super luxury Blenheim coupe is living proof of that. Despite the dated design, they continue to clearly satisfy their customers upon delivery. In 2003 they broke that mold when the Fighter supercar was unveiled. The completely new car packed a Viper drivetrain in a unique gullwing design. Now the ante is upped with the introduction of the 660 bhp Fighter S.
Another automotive icon known for their distinct style is Zagato, which today survives mainly as an independent design studio, but in the 50s and 60s, they bodied some of the most successful racers. Their lightweight materials and aerodynamic shapes frequently converted average chassis into top runners. Combine that with top notch underpinnings and a winner was certain. Such was the case with the Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZ, which dominated Italian racing in the early 1960s. In this weeks update we take a close look at the rarer of the two versions; the second generation 'Coda Tronca'.