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Designer insights: highlights of Auto Design Prague 2014

Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, might not seem the most obvious choice for an automotive design conference. But when one considers the country's history of innovation in the arts and architecture, its long-lived automotive marques like Tatra and Skoda, and Prague's central location in Europe, it makes perfect sense. Conference speakers included the program design director for Citroën DS, Ivo Groen; Volvo vice president of design Thomas Ingenlath; Jaguar advanced design director, Julian Thomson; Gert Hildebrand, head of design for Qoros; and Johann Lemercier, program manager at Ferrari design.

Citroën C-Elysée & Citroën C4 L

The Citroën C-Elysée & Citroën C4 L are two new Citroens aimed at budget compact saloon buyers in emerging markets. The biggest car market in the world is actually the compact saloon, even if Europe, and particularly the UK, has taken to the hatch and compact SUV instead. We recently had the Peugeot 301 arrive as an offering for more budget-minded car buyers in countries like Turkey, Eastern Europe, Russia, Ukraine, Greece, Middle East and Africa, and the new Citroen C-Elysée is the Citroen take on the same objective.

Toyota sets Nurburgring record... for fuel economy

WHATEVER else you might say about Toyota, it seems the brand has a sense of humour. Driving enthusiasts will hand their (petrol)heads in shame after Toyota completed the 12.9-mile German track at an average of 698mpg. The embarrassingly pedestrian time of 20 minutes and 59 seconds was set by motor journalist and Japanese car expert Joe Clifford, and since Toyota is the first to shame itself with a fuel economy run at the heart of performance car testing, it automatically sets a new efficiency record.