If ever there was an automotive book I'd like to have on my coffee table, this is it. Driving Style: GM Design's First Century is being produced to help honour GM's centennial and promises to be little short of fabulous.

Richard Lentinello writes in the Hemmings newsletter: "It focuses on all the wonderful, industry-leading designs that once made General Motors the envy of the world. Using never-before-seen photographs, styling sketches and design illustrations from the GM Archives, there will also be several inserts printed on velum paper of original concept vehicle sketches from six GM designers. This hardcover, coffee-table-type book will total 256 pages, be printed on high-quality paper and include over 600 photographs, with more than 500 of them in color. And to better showcase an automobile's horizontal dimensions, the book will be printed in a unique 10x14-inch oblong format."

GM Vice-Chairman Bob Lutz, a very knowledgeable design enthusiast, adds "this book is the result of a true labor of love by GM Design. The group tirelessly mined the archives, combing through the catacombs in the basement, and produced images that have never been published, and haven't been seen by anyone in decades. They found original design sketches, and photos of clay models. They also shot and re-shot some of our historical vehicles from angles never photographed before. This book documents the past in spectacular fashion, and hints at a fabulous future as well."

It's a limited-production book, virtually guaranteed to be a collectible and at $50 represents excellent value. You can learn more and order your copy at the publisher's site. Note: As a Canadian I do, however, have one beef. Shipping in the US (which I can see from the end of my street!) costs $7.00. International shipping is $50. A big difference for a couple of miles.