2012 Interior Motives School League Report

In addition to showcasing the talent of student designers, the 2012 Interior Motives Design Awards acknowledged for the first time the achievements of the schools that nurtured them with its inaugural ‘Most Successful School' award. After a close-run battle with Italy's Istituto Europeo di Design (IED) that was eventually decided by just a single point, the award went to London's Royal College of Art. This one-off award for the RCA is backed up by CDN's league table of school success over the past five years, which has now been updated to include the results from the 2012 Interior Motives Design Awards.

Views of new Jaguar XJ leak out

Here's the proof that Jaguar has finally junked decades of styling heritage with its dramatically detailed new flagship, the XJ sedan. Although there's a family resemblance to the new XF at the front and in the overall, swoopy fastback shape, Jaguar is entering new territory with the rear styling of the car. In a European context, the rear lights nod toward Italian brand Lancia, and a breakthrough feature is the wraparound, dark-colored panel on the D-pillar, which follows the outline of the sloping rear glass.

Sandy's toll: 15,000 cars and counting

The damage tally from Superstorm Sandy continues to roll in. The latest estimate is that Toyota, Chrysler, Nissan and Honda plan to scrap 15,000 new cars damaged. The National Automotive Dealers Association says that number could grow to 200,000 cars.