Ferrari World Design Contest 2011 enters second phase

The Ferrari World Design Contest, launched in collaboration with Autodesk, has just completed the first phase of its selection process. With entries from over 50 international design schools, the contest saw more than 200 projects arrive at the supercar manufacturer's studios in Maranello. Seven design schools have now been selected as finalists.

BMW M7 coming after all?

Despite BMW’s stating they will never make an M7, BMW’s American boss Ludwig Willisch says it will happen. Three years ago the BMW ‘M’ anoraks got excited when they thought BMW was about to produce a range-topping M7, but it turned out the photos that elicited their excitement were simply a 7 Series with an M Sport pack bolted on. In answer to the M-anorak’s disappointment BMW pointed out – very sensibly in our view – that the market for an M7 would be tiny and that you could already have a 760i M Sport with a stunning V12 and 0-62mph in 4.5 seconds.

Wacky Racers For French Urban Mobility Project

TOYOTA’S involvement in a new three-year urban mobility project in Grenoble, France promises to inject a little fun into what can be an otherwise dull undertaking. The trial scheme will see radical three-wheel Toyota i-Road and COMS four-wheel electric vehicles available for public car sharing on local journeys. Toyota is supplying 35 of each type of vehicle and is also contributing its Ha:Mo (harmonious mobility) system to manage the scheme day-to-day, following a model that’s already been successfully piloted in Toyota City in Japan.