Isuzu Isuzu Large Automobiles 2003 Radio [0261100] on 2040-parts.com

Pocketsquare to premiere Panasonic's driver-focussed HMI interior concept at NAIAS

Erstwhile GM interior design chief David Lyon, alongside former GM engineer Nina Mital and ex-Ford designer Gary Braddock – the three members of new Michigan-based design consultancy Pocketsquare – will have the first fruits of their new venture displayed at the NAIAS in Detroit in the form of Panasonic's advanced interior design concept. The interior makes use of Panasonic's new range of head-up displays and smart clusters to reduce driver distraction in advance of the latest proposed NHTSA legislation. The system is said to exceed these measures by as much as 35 per cent.

Mercedes-Benz unveils 'golf cart of the future' design study

Designed at its Carlsbad studio in California, Mercedes-Benz presented its ‘Vision Golf Cart' to the golfing world during this year's Open Championship in Scotland. Having called upon car fans and followers of the sport to submit their ideas for a future Mercedes buggy, a jury then went about sifting through all the submissions until they found the best entries. Electrically driven and powered by a battery kept continuously charged by solar panels on the roof, the buggy is controlled by a joystick mounted on the center console allowing either passenger to drive.

New car sales surge by 7.6%

THE SURGE in new car sales has continued into the new year. There were 154,562 new vehicles registered last month, a 7.6% rise on January last year, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said. The society said sales of alternatively fuelled vehicle increased by 25%.