BMW i and Wallpaper* Megacity project

BMW i and Wallpaper* magazine have joined forces for ‘Sustainable Neighborhoods', a global project exploring how design and technology will serve in keeping megacities of the future moving. Students teams from each of the six chosen neighborhoods – from Los Angeles, Paris, London, Hangzhou, Berlin and Tokyo – have been tasked by the two companies, and their school course, to research their nearest megacity for a suitable case study to act as a catalyst for creative thinking about how short term cultural and technological evolution will have an impact on the way we live tomorrow. A series of workshops and in-depth discussions took place with students, tutors and members of BMW's global design team to examine the evolution of cities and research six different city zones, with the aim of defining a new infrastructural, cultural or social project that will scale seamlessly into the future.

Seat unveils electric Altea, Leon plug-in hybrid (2011)

Seat has unveiled a pair of prototype electric cars to underline its commitment to EVs: the Altea XL Electric Ecomotive full electric car and the Leon TwinDrive Ecomotive plug-in hybrid. Martorell has also confirmed plans to build hybrids in 2015 and electric cars from 2016. They'll be designed, developed and manufactured in Spain, as the VW group devolves green car centres of excellence away from Germany.

McLaren employees killed in crash

TWO MCLAREN EMPLOYEES were killed when the sports car they were travelling in crashed near to the Formula 1 giant's technology centre. The staff members, who were in a blue Subaru Impreza, were pronounced dead at the scene following a collision with a Ford Transit van on the A320 in Ottershaw, Surrey, at 12.10pm yesterday. A man in his 60s who was driving the van was taken to St George's Hospital in Tooting with serious injuries, Surrey Police said.