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Mini at the Salone del Mobile, Milan

Mini is using this year's Salone del Mobile in Milan to showcase its 'flair for design.' As with previous years, Mini will be using sites at Milan's Università degli Studi and the Triennale Design Museum for its installations that highlight the brand's 'Creative Use of Space' philosophy. The running theme between the two works is the progression of the brand, from its roots, through to the future of mobility. The Università degli Studi instillation is entitled 'Mini Sintesi' and was initiated by Italian design magazine INTERNI under the watchful eye of Gilda Bojardi.

Scuola Politecnica di Design Milan 2007

Milan, Italy is well known for being a style center, so it's fairly apt that there is a design school based in one of the most fashionable and creative areas of the city. Scuola Politecnica di Design has been molding new designers for over 50 years and has a program specifically devised for students seeking to master the art of transportation design. On June 29th the school held its annual degree show, and Car Design News went to Milan to see what the students in the Masters Course had dreamt up. This year marked the second time that Audi sponsored the course, giving students a brief that consisted of creating "a sporty, small lifestyle car for the 'Generation Mobile'": a small car for young customers living in urban areas that would also be accustomed to using iPods.

BMW looks to patent seven-speed lockout manual transmission

The intrepid Bimmerphiles over at www.e90post.com have uncovered a few drawings from BMW's latest patent request. The drawing shows a new transmission linkage and what looks to be a seven-speed manual transmission. Like the new Porsche 911, the BMW gear shifter has six gears in standard H pattern, with a seventh gear out to the right.