Yamaha 3gb-2625h-00-00 Arm, Throttle on 2040-parts.com

Designer insights: highlights of Auto Design Prague 2014

Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, might not seem the most obvious choice for an automotive design conference. But when one considers the country's history of innovation in the arts and architecture, its long-lived automotive marques like Tatra and Skoda, and Prague's central location in Europe, it makes perfect sense. Conference speakers included the program design director for Citroën DS, Ivo Groen; Volvo vice president of design Thomas Ingenlath; Jaguar advanced design director, Julian Thomson; Gert Hildebrand, head of design for Qoros; and Johann Lemercier, program manager at Ferrari design.

Future products: Suzuki Swift on hold as VW reviews plans

American Suzuki's product plans are murky--partly as a result of Volkswagen's acquisition of 20 percent of Suzuki Motor Corp. this year and partly because of the growing strength of the yen against the dollar. The Swift, a small car popular in Europe and Japan, was scheduled to go on sale in the United States this year.

Tata Prima (w/ Gallery)

Pininfarina didn't show a new car at this year's Geneva Motor Show, but there was a surprise new model on the Tata stand adorned with the famed Carrozzeria's signature. Called the Tata Prima (meaning 'first' in Italian), the luxury sedan concept is the first official project of the Tata-Pininfarina cooperation. Based on the platform of the Tata Indigo - the first Indian sedan - the Prima is an indication of how future Tata sedans could look.