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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.

Subaru Impreza WRX STI S206: The ultimate Impreza for JDM

Subaru Impreza WRX STI S206 Scooby fans do like a limited edition Impreza, so their collective mouths will be watering at the news that a new Impreza is on the block – the  Impreza WRX STI S206. But before you all get too excited, Subaru has no plans to bring any of the 300 S206s to the UK – they’re all for the JDM and are going straight on sale in Japan, with an S206 taking pride of place on Subaru’s stand at the Tokyo Motor Show next week. Subaru say the S206 is the Crown Jewel of the STI cars, and Subaru have given the S206 a raft of updates over the standard WRX STI.

CONFIRMED! Buick Regal GS gets green light

The Buick that enthusiasts have been clamoring for--the Regal GS show car revealed at the Detroit auto show--will soon be reality. This turbocharged demon packing 255 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque with a six-speed manual transmission and a host of performance enhancements has been approved, spokeswoman Dayna Hart told AutoWeek on Monday. There is no time line for the launch, and other details are not available.