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Henrik Fisker launches new luxury sports car company

Henrik Fisker and Bernhard Koehler have announced the opening of a new luxury car company, Fisker Coachbuild, based in Southern California to appeal to the global market. The focus of the company will be on designing and manufacturing exclusive high-end sports cars, which will be limited to 150 units per design and sold under the Fisker brand name, with world-wide distribution. The first public unveiling of the new designs will be scheduled towards the end of 2005, with production to commence during the second quarter 2006.

BMW and Local Motors join forces for latest contest

BMW and Local Motors have come together to launch the Urban Driving Experience Challenge, which launches on 25 September. The contest challenges designers to create the premium vehicle features and functions that will shape the urban driving experience in 2025 and beyond. The Mega Cities of the future will offer a number a new challenges for the automotive industry, such as increasing urbanization, rapid population growth, changing infrastructures and environmental pollution.

Honda Vezel crossover arrives at the Tokyo motor show

For the record, Vezel rhymes with "bezel," and it's the name of Honda's long suspected Fit-based crossover. Honda showed off the new Vezel hybrid model at the Tokyo motor show, though the production model set to launch in Japan in December will also be available with a straight-gasoline 1.5-liter direct-injected engine also. Other details are still slim, but the company did claim a "Sport Hybrid i-DCD" powertrain will get a stronger engine and most likely a dual-clutch transmission with integrated electric motor.