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Jason Castriota to head Saab Design

When Car Design News spoke to Jason Castriota about the new design consultancy he had set up in New York and Turin back in March, the designer told us he was working on a very exciting automotive project that he couldn't talk about at the time. It turns out that automotive project was for Saab, as last week the Swedish automaker announced it had hired Jason Castriota Design to oversee the development of a new generation of Saab products – the first to be completed under the tenure of its new owners, Spyker. Castriota's new appointment marks the shift from Saab's former position – where the brand was an integrated company within GM – to its newfound placement as an independent automaker, with Castriota essentially filling the role previously occupied by Mark Adams, GM Europe's Vice President of Design.

Lexus teases new design direction ahead of Detroit 2012

Lexus Concept Tease Detroit 2012 (click image for full size) Lexus has sent us a teaser photo of a new Lexus Concept heading for the Detroit Motor Show which is said to preview a new design direction. With the 2012 Detroit Motor Show just weeks away, we’re starting to get the big teases from car makers eager to ramp up interest in their offerings. This morning we learnt that Honda will take the new NSX to Detroit, and now we have arch-rivals Toyota teasing a new design direction for Lexus with a tease of a new concept, also Detroit-bound.

New British car company coming?

British entrepreneur David Brown, not to be confused with the late Aston Martin owner Sir David Brown or the former British Prime Minister, has announced the upcoming debut of a new luxury sports-car brand bearing his name. Brown has teamed up with ex-Land Rover chief designer Alan Mobberley to create the new car, dubbed "Project Judi" for now. This wouldn't be an update of any existing model but rather an all-new exterior and interior design.