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What the 2014 Malibu tells us about the future of styling

Decades ago, Detroit's automakers changed their offerings' sheet metal, or at least substantial parts of it, every model year. The process of revealing revised models to the public boosted the glamour and mystique of the entire industry. Dealership windows were papered over; display models were smuggled in under wraps; anticipation grew to a fever pitch.

2012 Volvo S60 & XC60 R-Design get more oomph

Volvo V60 R-Design - finally, more get up and go We’re quite partial to the Volvo S60 (actually, we’re even more partial to the Volvo V60) and we like how Volvo’s R-Design pack makes a real impact without making the car look like a boy racer’s wet dream. What’s also nice – in this age of parsimony – is that even if you opt for a lowly diesel version you can still have a Volvo that looks like it gets there in a hurry, even if it doesn’t. But our preference is always for a bit more power, especially if all the visual cues make you smile in anticipation, so we have been know to bemoan the lack of any sort of power boost – even as an add-on option – on Volvo’s R-Design cars.

Daimler & BYD reveal the Denza EV Concept: Beijing 2012

Denza EV Concept The partnership between Daimler and BYD in China has revealed its first fruit – the Denza EV Concept - at the Beijing Motor Show. It’s just a few weeks since we learned that Daimler and BYD had come up with a name for their joint venture in China to produce New Energy Vehicles (basically EVs). Denza – or Tengshi, in Chinese – seeks to take Daimler’s expertise in car making (and they do claim more than any other car maker on the planet) and mate it with BYD’s undoubted expertise in electric cars to build a car company that only produces new energy vehicles.