Concept Car of the Week: Lancia Bertone Sibilo (1978)

The second half of the ‘70s saw automotive design fall into an era of uninspired and uninspiring economic cars finished with cheap plastic add-ons and stuffed with beige itchy fabrics. Working from the little Bertone studio in Turin, it seems Marcello Gandini didn't get the memo and carried on drawing futuristic wedgey supercars. With the Sibilo, he pushed his signature angular style to a new level of modernity.

Next BMW 7-series previewed in Vision Future Luxury concept

BMW has previewed key exterior styling elements, contemporary interior design touches, lightweight carbon fiber construction and innovative lighting systems to be incorporated on next year's sixth-generation 7-series with the unveiling of an arresting new concept car that goes under the name Vision Future Luxury. Revealed at the Beijing auto show, the big new sedan is described as a showcase for future BMW models. But while initial speculation suggested the Vision Future Luxury pointed at a possible 9-series flagship model to be installed at the top of the German car maker's lineup, BMW officials have confirmed the new concept was created more specifically as a pointer to the next 7-series, which is planned to head into North American showrooms late next year.

Audi says U.S. will get clean diesels at a premium

Audi CEO Rupert Stadler says American consumers will get more clean diesels--but they will pay a premium for them. “I think the problem is that we don't really have an honest discussion,” Stadler said in a press roundtable at the auto show here. “There is a very, very high level of investment, and nobody today knows if the return will come,” he said.