Giorgetto Giuigiaro and his Italdesign studio have a long history of collaboration with the Volkswagen Group. In addition to having designed the original Golf and Scirocco, Guigiaro has penned a whole slew of showcars for the German automotive empire from the Volkswagen W12 concept to the numerous Seat designs, to say nothing of all the Lamborghini and Bugatti models over the years. @funkmasterflex
Mississippi under fire for considering KKK leader and Confederate hero on license plate
Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour has come under fire for failing to condemn efforts by the state’s Sons of Confederate Veterans to institute a license plate commemorating Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest. Historically, Forrest has been both hailed for his military brilliance and condemned for his brutality both during and after the Civil War. The general infamously slaughtered black Union troops that surrendered at Fort Pillow Tennessee in 1864 and became a Grand Wizard in the KKK after the war ended. @funkmasterflex
Hyundai and Samsung considering partnership to bring tablets to cars
According to reports coming out of South Korea, Hyundai is in talks with Samsung to develop a next-generation connectivity system that could allow tablets to be fully integrated into its cars by 2013. @funkmasterflex @tatwza
Facebook Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid
Porsche is celebrating a unique social media milestone with a custom 911 GT3 R Hybrid. The company recently surpassed 1 million fans on Facebook, and to mark the occasion, designers have churned out the hybrid 911 racer with the signatures of over 27,000 Porsche fans. The vehicle is set to be on display at the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart for all to see. @funkmasterflex
Audi Aluminum A5 Coupe Prototype
Audi has put carbon fiber to good use in concept vehicles like the e-tron show cars and a special lightweight A5, which has a carbon fiber hood and rear deck, and in some parts of the R8 and RS 3. The high-tech (and currently expensive) material could make the jump from fancy accoutrement to integral part of future lightweight production cars thanks to the announcement that Audi and Voith GmbH have formed a development partnership to bring “fiber-reinforced materials” to market by “developing a highly automated process chain for high-volume automotive production.” Voith has many years of experience with carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP), a material that BMW will use in the Megacity EV and other vehicles. Mercedes, too, is interested in carbon fiber, and this is one party that can’t have too many guests. @funkmasterflex
Nick Hamilton, younger brother of Lewis, headed into racing
Nick Hamilton is following in the footsteps of his big brother. You may have heard of him… Lewis Hamilton, the 26-year-old Formula One pilot who has already earned the title of world champion and is continually adding to his career wins count. @funkmasterflex
