CES 2011 opens in Las Vegas

The pace of development in the world of consumer electronics – particularly touchscreens, smartphones and tablet devices – is increasingly influential on the world of automotive design. So with the world's biggest electronics trade show, the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), opening today in Las Vegas, we thought it high time for Car Design News to attend.  The 2011 show has a strong automotive flavor, more so than in any previous year. CES was the event at which Ford chose to launch its industry leading in-car connectivity feature, Sync, in 2008 and, for the third year running, Ford CEO Alan Mulally will deliver a keynote address, during which he is expected to unveil Ford's Nissan Leaf-rivaling, electric-powered Focus.

Global Vehicle Architecture opens new fully-equipped 3D Design Studio in Beijing

Global Vehicle Architecture (GVA) – a specialist independent design company encompassing all forms of transportation design – has opened a fully-equipped design studio in Beijing to cater for the growing  demand for design support services. GVA is unique in that it is the first European automotive designer led facility of its kind in China offering complete in-house modeling capabilities. The 2,000 square-meter studio, situated only 10 minutes from the 798 Art district and in close proximity to Beijing's airport, boasts extensive facilities including an 18-meter plate area, and prototype car build capabilities.

Rolls-Royce Ghost Series II (2014) first official pictures

By Ben Pulman First Official Pictures 04 March 2014 10:30 Rolls-Royce doesn’t facelift or revise its models quite like the rest of the world’s car manufacturers. Instead, mere mortal, you’re looking at the Rolls-Royce Ghost Series II, and the company claims, quite seriously, that the launch of this revised über-saloon ‘consolidates the Ghost’s position as the most popular car in the €200,000+ class.’ And in case you’re not feeling suitably poor or unaccomplished this morning, Rolls would like to point out this car probably isn’t for you either. Customers who’ll buy the Ghost Series II, says Rolls, are ‘the captains of industry, entrepreneurs and successful businessmen and women who are the wealth and job creators in our economies.’ Unless you’re on first name terms with the PM, you’re probably not overly familiar with the Ghost, but those who party with ‘Dave’ should be able to spot the subtle revisions, including sleeker LED headlights with daytime running lights.