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Art Center BMW/Exa project

There's a new sponsored project that is just getting under way at Art Center College of Design, the likes of which hasn't been seen in a very long time - if at all. The school's Transportation Design department has helped bring together BMW with Exa Corporation, a Boston-based virtual aerodynamic simulation company, and has tasked the students to re-design the current BMW X5 Sports Activity Vehicle with the hope of dramatically increasing its aerodynamic efficiency while still retaining the BMW flagship SAV design language. This brief is quite timely in the context of the industry's ongoing focus with sustainability and strikes at the core of the BMW Group's long term energy strategy known as the concept of Efficient Dynamics.

BMW works hard to avoid gas-guzzler tax

BMW AG hopes to get out from under the gas-guzzler taxes that are tacked on to the sticker prices of some of its high-performance models in the United States. Jim O'Donnell, president of BMW of North America, says the company is studying fuel-efficiency improvements that could eliminate the gas-guzzler taxes on its vehicles as early as the launch of their redesigns in the next few years. The 2010 550i GT incurs a $1,000 gas-guzzler fee, for example.

Hyundai to tone down ‘Fluidic Design’ for ‘Fluidic Precision’

Hyundai’s US boss, John Krafcik, has said that Hyundai will refine their ‘Fluidic Design’ in to something they’re calling ‘Fludic Precision’. The Hyundai Fluidic Design language was really the start of Hyundai’s move from Halford’s special to mainstream car maker. But the design language is starting to look a bit fussy and Hyundai are reacting to that by moving towards what they call ‘Fluidic Precision’ (there’s already a less fussy look about the new Santa Fe).