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Hyundai loses top U.S. designer

Hyundai's North American design chief, Joel Piaskowski, left the automaker on Dec. 31. Piaskowski is credited as the main designer for the Hyundai Genesis sedan and coupe.

Honda Gear Concept

Rather than fighting for headlines at NAIAS, Honda debuted its new GEAR Concept at the Montreal International Auto Show. The subcompact GEAR is apparently inspired by fixed-gear bicycles (although quite how is unclear), described as a customizable vehicle that demonstrates the carmaker's way of providing vehicles for young, urban, Gen-Y lifestyles. "Subcompact cars are usually either utilitarian, but uninspiring or they're fun, zippy cars that are impractical and too expensive for the Gen-Y buyer," said Dave Marek, Design Director at Honda R&D Americas, Inc.

Dassault Systèmes and Autodesign & Styling's 'Prague Experience' contest launched

Dassault Systèmes and AutoDesign & Styling magazine are looking for designs for everyday objects inspired by the Czech capital of Prague for their annual international design competition. The contest, which is open to designers from all over the world, calls for entries that are both user- and eco-friendly and reflect the character of Prague as a European city full of famous architecture and hundreds of monuments. Anne Asensio, vice-president of design experience at Dassault Systèmes and jury president for the past two years, said, "We are pleased to announce the third annual competition, and we have already introduced a small tradition.