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The Future Role of the Vehicle Designer

The vehicle design department at the Royal College of Art hosted the second in a series of five lectures looking at the future of the profession last week. Moving on from the previous week's topic of sustainability, this debate explored the future roles and responsibilities of the vehicle designer. Head of department Dale Harrow began by posing the question "Is it time to rethink – do we still need the car?" Although still relevant, Harrow's ultimate answer to this was that the profession was about to see marked change, with the end to an era where "designers are locked behind closed doors in studios".

New Bentley Continental GTC (2012) arrives too late for Summer

2012 Bentley Continental GTC - revealed ahead of Frankfurt Bentley are busy updating their cars, a process which started with the new Bentley Mulsanne and carried on with the 2012 Continental GT this time last year. And now, just too late for summer, we get the 2012 Bentley Continental GTC – the one with the soft top. As you would hope, in an age when lightness and frugality are key, Bentley has managed to cut the weight of the new Continental GT – but only by 70kg over the current model.

GM, Ford and Chrysler sales advance on crossover, small-car demand

General Motors, Ford and Chrysler posted higher July sales, helped by demand for crossovers as well as small, fuel-efficient vehicles. GM said today its sales rose 8 percent last month from a year ago, with passenger car demand rising 8 percent and crossover sales increasing 20 percent. At Ford, sales rose 6 percent, with car demand advancing 3 percent and light truck sales up 12 percent.