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Brief 1 – Buick: CDN–GM Interactive Design Competition

This year's Car Design News and General Motors Interactive Design Competition is now up and running. Simply choose one of the five briefs set by GM's designers and submit your entry on the competition website, http://www.cardesigncontest.com/ If you think you could design a 6-8-seat vehicle that promotes togetherness, then the brief set by Buick could be the one for you. It asks you to come up with a cutting edge, unique and innovative vehicle that embodies your vision of a modern Buick.

Nissan Townpod concept preview

Nissan has just released this image of its new Townpod concept, which offers insight into how the brand could expand its portfolio of zero-emission vehicles. It will be displayed at the Paris motor show.  Designed to offer zero-emissions mobility to a future generation of home-based, innovative entrepreneurs who are creative and tech-savvy, the Townpod "combines eye-catching design with a spacious and practical interior," Nissan says. "[It's] more than just a car and it's more than just a van – it heralds a new-era of flexible, stylish vehicles that will bring electric-vehicle mobility to the masses." We'll bring you more information, our critique of the design and our own unique photographs of the Townpod in a few weeks' time.

Audi A6 (2011) first official pictures

Essentially an A7 fastback in its work clothes, the new Audi A6 saloon is lighter, greener and more tech-heavy than ever.  The mini-A8 styling is more evolutionary than revolutionary, but underneath the skin are some key key changes, including the addition of a hybrid drivetrain. Initially the A6 comes with a choice of five engines: a pair of petrols and three TDI units. And because all new A6 engines are linked to efficiency-enhancing systems like start-stop and energy recovery the average consumption across the range has been dropped by 19%.