PPG Design Challenge

Global supplier PPG Industries presented its Design Challenge awards at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show in January. The annual automotive glass design competition called for students to design a vehicle for a 20-something male named Matt - a recent college graduate beginning his career - whose vehicle needed to be image-enhancing and reliable. Taking inspiration from golf, bamboo charcoal and catamaran boats, 26 transportation design sophomores presented concepts that demonstrated the versatility of glass in providing unique styling as well as utility, comfort and convenience.

Saab 9-3 EV prototype revealed by NEVS

Saab 9-3 EV prototype revealed by NEVS When National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS) bought what was left after the debacle of bankruptcy, the plan was to create a range of electric cars using the Saab brand. But that hasn’t gone to plan, even though the first electric Saab 9-3 Prototype has now been revealed. In fact, Saab under NEVS has also come close to bankruptcy recently as an unpaid supplier took court action (although NEVS say that little local difficulty has been solved) and NEVS had to resort to building ICE engined Saabs to keep a few bob coming in.

Redesigned 2013 Lexus LS offers new sheetmetal, safety features

Lexus Division unveiled its new LS 460 flagship luxury sedan that arrives in dealerships this fall, with standard and long-wheelbase editions, a hybrid version and a new F-Sport trim level with improved handling dynamics. Despite its sheet metal changes, the car is actually little changed underneath. Its 4.6-liter V8 engine and eight-speed transmission are basically carryover, at a time when luxury brands are using powertrain technology as a differentiating ploy.