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Exclusive: Laurens van den Acker to replace Patrick le Quément at Renault

The wheels of change are continuing to turn within the automotive design industry, with yet another new appointment being made at the director level. According to industry insiders, Laurens van den Acker is set become the new Design Director at Renault when Patrick le Quément retires later this year. One of the most pre-eminent car designers in the world, Patrick le Quément began his design career at Simca, worked at Ford for 17 years and did a brief stint at Volkswagen before taking the top design job at Renault.

Designer Paul Smith launches exhibition

DESIGN GURU Sir Paul Smith has given a glimpse into his world with a re-creation of his office forming part of a new exhibition dedicated to his work. The fashion star takes centre-stage at the Design Museum in London for the next four months with items from his vast archive on display. Sir Paul was at the launch today, posing alongside colourful life-size cardboard cut-outs and showing off sketches, designs and other paraphernalia from his lengthy career as one of Britain's best-known creative forces.

Learners' bizarre superstitions revealed

NERVES can have a crippling effect on learner drivers once they get to test day. Here, instructors with the AA Driving School recall particularly superstitious students whose desire to get their full licence resulted in carrying out unusual rituals: :: One pupil wore the T-shirt she had on when she gave birth to her daughter (now seven years old) and the trousers she was wearing before she conceived. :: A learner had failed three times due to nerves.