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Google continues autonomous car tests [w/video]

Google is leading the charge towards the production of a fully autonomous car, releasing a video earlier this week of the car being tested on a programmed route. Steve Mahan, who is 95 per cent blind, successfully tested the car with Google engineers and a member of the local police close at hand should something go awry. Google kitted out a Toyota Prius with its software, taking the shape of a spinning cylinder on the car's roof, which senses traffic or activity close to the car and automatically adapts to its situation.

Volkswagen Concept A

Volkswagen has revealed its latest design study, the Concept A, a crossover between sports car and SUV. Like the conceptually similar Concept T of 2004, the Concept A is based on the Golf platform, marrying coupe-like profile with raised stance. At the front, vertical vents flank the shield-grille, whose matt-silver finish is repeated on the A-posts and door-handles.

College Exhibition: CCS - American Iron and Steel Institute Challenge 2004

Transportation Design students at Detroit's College for Creative Studies recently presented the results of a project sponsored by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). The unveiling of the students' concept vehicles is the finale of the 16th annual AISI/CCS Summer Internship Program that set the transportation design students the task of designing functional, innovative 'Hollywood-inspired' vehicles that integrate environmental responsibility, cost efficiency and innovative steel materials. "The AISI/CCS summer internship was created to inspire a new generation of automotive designers to develop alternative fuel vehicles, lightweight steel structures and a flexible platform base, all of which are real goals for today's automotive product developers," said Brian Aranha, vice president of commercial for Dofasco Inc.