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Design Services: Car Menu launched

Within almost every automotive design department throughout the world, their comes a time when a junior designer is dispatched to find a picture of some new model's tail lamp, the side view of a particular class leading competitor or examples of several new cars' colour and trim packages. Whilst looking at the competition is not necessarily a healthy way of finding ideas, it is often essential to demonstrate what is feasible, check in-house proposals are not too derivative, or show how advanced a design theme is relative to the same type of cars on the market. But even if the particular aspect of a car can be found, press packs and magazines typically show cars in the flattering light of an exotic location or being drifted around a corner on opposite lock; rarely are these images particularly useful.

2014 Acura RDX priced at $35,415

The 2014 Acura RDX goes on sale Wednesday with a base price of $35,415, including $895 in destination charges. Stepping up to the technology package brings the price to $39,115; all-wheel drive adds $1,400. Only one powertrain will be offered for 2014: a 3.5-liter V6 with a six-speed automatic transmission.

2013 Toyota Auris revealed ahead of Paris Motor Show debut

The new Toyota Auris – based on the old Auris but with a new look – has been revealed ahead of a Paris Motor Show debut. Even though there were rumours that the replacement for the Toyota Auris would arrive with the 2013 Toyota Corolla badge, Toyota has decided to stick with the Auris badge for the 2013 car, revealed today ahead of Paris 2012 (although we did have a leak of the 2013 Auris a few months ago). With competition from the VW Golf and Ford Focus – and a new-found desire to deliver cars that are more interesting to look at and drive – Toyota needs to be on the mark with the new Auris, and certainly in terms of how it looks the new Auris is a lot more interesting than the bland current model.