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Nike's 'Making' app: helping designers choose most sustainable materials

As we're told more and more frequently about the impact of our environmental footprint on the world, it's no surprise that companies of all disciplines are examining their processes to cut emissions and waste. Now Nike has entered the fray by developing a free app giving designers a deeper insight of how green their material choices are. The sportswear giant's new free ‘Making' app allows designers to examine the sustainability of 22 different product materials such as cotton, silk and grass-fed leather.

Smart ForTwo GrandStyle Edition looks like the run-out model – price from £10,330

The Smart ForTwo GrandStyle comes as a coupe or cabrio The next generation Smart car is heading for the Paris Motor Show in October, so you can probably look at Smart’s latest special edition car – the Smart ForTwo GrandStyle Edition – as a final hurrah for Mercedes’ city car in its current guise. Based on the Smart Passion trim, the GrandStyle gets a set of 15″ gloss black alloys, LEd running lights,  titanium-coloured surrounds for the headlights, ‘grandstyle’ logos and a choice of five exterior and tridion colours. Inside comes swathed in Artico for an upmarket look, there’s a leather steering wheel, SatNav with 6.5″ colour screen, AirCon, cup holder and the option of a comfort package that adds heated seats and electric heated door mirrors.

Nissan Esflow electric concept car (2011) at 2011 Geneva motor show

Nissan may be all goody two shoes with the Leaf electric car - but this new Esflow concept car is designed to prove to the world that Nissan can make EVs exciting too. The new Nissan Esflow will be shown at the 2011 Geneva motor show. It's essentially a rebodied Leaf, using that car's battery know-how wrapped in a dramatic sports coupe body.