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College Exhibition: Royal College of Art - GE Plasticon project

Postgraduate students at London's Royal College of Art recently presented the results of a multi-disciplinary design project in collaboration with GE Plastics. As part of the 'PLASTicon' project, 17 RCA first year MA students researched, designed and built models of concept vehicles aimed at the needs of different markets - from SUV owners to Gen-Y consumers - utilising the capabilities of plastics. Beginning in December, the students from the Vehicle Design course as well as from Textiles, were split into six teams tasked with conducting research into specific scenarios, including emerging generations and emerging markets to meet specific challenges of today and tomorrow.

Lotus not liquidating

When a storied car brand moves only 137 units in a year in the UK and 242 in the US, predictions of said marque's demise carry a certain amount of weight -- 137 is not exactly a number that makes an automaker too big to fail. When the manufacturer in question shows up on a government list of companies to be shut down, brand-enthusiast hearts get heavy; the early stages of mourning kick in. But when the company in question is Lotus, the enthusiast thinks to himself, “Eh, they've been in dire straits before.

Who's Where: BMW Group reorganizes Design operations

BMW Group has announced changes to its design organization, in keeping with the company's stronger focus on its brands BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce. Under the overall direction of Chris Bangle, Director of BMW Group Design, brand specific design studios have been set up for BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce, as well as for the areas BMW Motorrad and BMW M. These new brand studios will accompany the entire development process for new models from the first sketches to the start of production.