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Bentley SUV (Bentley Falcon) to get completely new design – EXP 9 F scrapped

Car & Driver are reporting that Bentley’s new Design chief - Luc Donckerwolke – is scrapping the Bentley SUV Concept and starting again. Despite the less than friendly response to the Bentley SUV, Bentley went on to show it at both the Beijing Motor Show and Pebble Beach but made it clear that the SUV was just a concept; a work in progress. But the arrival of Luc Donckerwolke as Bentley’s Chief Designer appears to have signalled the end of the EXP 9 F concept completely, with Car and Driver reporting that Donckerwolke isn’t overseeing a tinkering with the EXP 9 F Concept, but is scrapping it altogether.

2010 LA Design Challenge entrants revealed

Entries for the 2010 Los Angeles Design Challenge have now been revealed. The futuristic proposals, which called for designers to envision a 1000lbs (454kg) 2+2 vehicle that delivers comfort, safety and satisfactory driving performance without sacrificing the emotional connection today's consumers demand from their vehicles, come from the west coast design studios of seven automakers – General Motors, Honda, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Toyota and Volvo. For the first time since the Challenge's inception, studios outside California have also been allowed to enter the competition.

Infiniti EX35

The EX35 is a slightly smaller and more mainstream SUV than its FX bigger brother from which it takes its core 'coupe SUV' theme.  Despite the coupe design references, the vehicle is similar proportionally to the Lexus RX300 and BMW X3 which it will compete with in the US - and also in Europe when the Infiniti brand debuts next year.  Little different to the Infiniti EX concept shown in New York, the EX35 uses the core Infiniti graphic design signatures and soft form language but introduces a new flowing side feature line not seen on the Infiniti G37 Coupe launched a few months ago. Interesting technical innovations include the 'Around View Monitor' that uses four cameras to give a 'top-down view' of the outside of the car, and 'Scratch Shield' - a new self-healing clearcoat paint. Related Stories: Infiniti EX concept - New York Auto Show 2007 Infiniti G37 Coupe - New York Auto Show 2007