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Smart Forspeed concept signals new design direction

Smart will unveil a new concept at the forthcoming Geneva motor show that signals a new design direction, hints at future product and confirms parent company Daimler's renewed commitment to the brand. Car Design News was granted early access to the concept, baptized Forspeed, at a secret photography studio in Stuttgart last week and heard the head of advanced design, Steffen Kohl, explain how the two-seat, electric-powered vehicle prefaces design themes in both the next Fortwo and the revived Forfour, which will be launched in 2014. "The fullness of this concept's exterior surfaces is important and will be reflected in future production models," said Kohl, "Smart will still be short, spacey, agile, and with wheels at the corners of the car, but with an added sporty and emotional design and without losing all the brand's iconic elements like its ‘plastic fantastic' aspect and the safe and hi-tech modular tridion shell assembled with all these changeable body parts.

Ferrari 458 Speciale revealed ahead of Frankfurt Motor Show debut

The Ferrari 458 Speciale (pictured) has been revealed ahead of a Frankfurt debut It’s always been a given that Ferrari would make a 458 in the mould of the 430 Scuderia – a more focused and more powerful version of the stock model – and here it is. The Ferrari 458 Speciale. Revealed ahead of a public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month, the 458 Speciale gets modifications to its aerodynamics and its powertrain and previews the direction of future Ferraris in the process.

Hyundai joins the crossover set

By Tim Pollard First Official Pictures 19 February 2007 09:39 Yawn... not another crossover concept? Afraid so.