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Who's Where: Jason Castriota opens own design consultancy

Former Bertone and Pininfarina designer, Jason Castriota, has opened his own design consultancy based in New York and Turin. CDN recently caught up with Castriota - who is currently in New York - and discovered he's already working on a series of projects, despite having not yet officially launched the company. Castriota told us that it had always been his "dream to have my own consultancy in New York", yet what's clearly pleasing him most is the volume of work he's already accrued, without officially launching the firm.

Toyota Yaris Hybrid Price & Specs – starts at £14,995

Toyota Yaris Hybrid costs from £14,995 The Toyota Yaris Hybrid – the UK and Europe’s Prius C alternative – will start at £14,995 making it the UK’s cheapest hybrid car. Back in February we learnt that the Toyota Yaris Hybrid, which is the small hybrid offering in the UK and Europe instead of the Prius C, will cost ‘under £15,000′. Well, it does but only just – the Yaris Hybrid starts at £14,005.

The scramble for scarce tires

North American automakers are struggling with a nagging shortage of tires, caused in part by tire plant closings and rising demand for low-volume specialty tires. Automakers are paying much higher prices -- double-digit percentage increases from a year ago -- as tire makers gain pricing power. "We have been bombarded from every side for additional tires, and we can't keep up," said David O'Donnell, Continental Tire's vice president of original equipment in the Americas.