Michelin Challenge Design announces 2007 theme and call for entries

At the 2006 North American International Auto Show, Michelin Challenge Design announced its theme for the 2007 Challenge. Michelin Challenge Design will ask entrants to explore the future of transportation design using safety as the focus and inspiration. For 2007, the challenge is to design a vehicle for the North American market that enhances overall road safety, incorporating safety features for the occupants, but also for others who share the road.

David Brown Automotive Speedback revealed

All-new British sports car brand David Brown Automotive has revealed its first production GT car, the Speedback, prior to its world debut at the Top Marques Monaco event in April. The new Speedback is based on the Jaguar XKR and uses its supercharged 5.0-litre V8 motor to produce over 500hp. It’s been 18 months in development and has been engineered in Coventry – and will use hand-crafted bodywork produced in the automotive city, too.

Chrysler to close Pacifica Advanced Design Studios

The 20 designers at Chrysler's Pacifica Advanced Design Studios in Carlsbad, California will soon be finding themselves out of a job. The struggling North American automaker announced the closure of the facility on Friday, stating that the company is ‘leveraging resources worldwide, forming new joint ventures and alliances and consolidating operations in order to better achieve global balance.' Responsible for many of the more successful designs hailing from Chrysler in recent times, including the Chrysler 300 sedan and the new Dodge Challenger musclecar, the Pacifica Advanced Product Design Center also yielded the Nassau concept car and the Pacifica crossover – bearing the same name as the west coast studios in which it was created. The work done at the Pacifica Advanced Design Center will be consolidated into the Advance Design function in Auburn Hills and continue to be led by Senior Vice President of Design, Trevor Creed.