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Middlecott Sketchbattle Experiment contest pits auto designers against Detroit talent

Local creative and design talent from outside and inside the car industry will go head-to-head in a multi-round competition for the title of Sketchmaster in the Middlecott Sketchbattle Experiment (MSBE). To be held at an underground afterparty for the Auto Show Charity Preview on 17 January at the Kunsthalle Museum in Detroit, the self-styled car design fight club will be attended by industry leaders, designers from Ford, GM, Chrysler, Toyota and Tier One suppliers. Car enthusiasts, artists and designers from around the globe will also be present.

New 2015 Volvo XC90 – first exterior photo

The new Volvo XC90 (pictured) arrives in 2 weeks The reveal of the new 2015 Volvo XC90 is only two weeks away – although probably overdue by many years – and Volvo continue to pique our interest with more information on the new XC90. Top of Volvo’s information list this time is their new Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) which underpins the new mXC90, but in the process they have revealed the first exterior photo of the new XC90 (although the exterior has already been revealed), although it is only a front-end detail photo. What it does show is the XC90′s new headlights – complete with running lights Volvo has dubbed ‘Thor’s Hammer – which look similar to those found on a number of Volvo’s recent concepts, a much bigger grill than we’re used to seeing on a Volvo and a sculptured bonnet.

Lexus plans small crossover

Lexus plans to show a production-ready compact SUV to rival the Audi Q3 and BMW X1 at the 2014 Geneva motor show, a company source said. The hybrid model, which will be based on the redesigned Toyota RAV4, will slot below the Lexus RX 450h. It was unclear if or when the vehicle would come to North America.