2009 Interior Motives Design Awards

Registration for the seventh annual Interior Motives Design Awards - themed ‘Sustainable and Clever' - is now open. Hosted by our quarterly interior design publication Interior Motives, the competition challenges design students around the world to come up with innovative designs that offer clever solutions to the problems facing 21st century vehicle design. Students are asked to create a design that fulfils one of the following four briefs: Chinese car 2.0 Create a next-generation vehicle designed specifically to serve the needs of young, design-aware Chinese consumers.

Porsche announces new Weissach design center and wind tunnel

Porsche is to invest around €150m into its Weissach development facility, including a new design center. The plans also include an electronics integration department and a state-of-the art, on-site wind tunnel, which is hoped will allow the company to realize an holistic approach to efficient design, with a strong focus on aerodynamics. When we spoke with head of Porsche design, Michael Mauer, at this year's Paris motor show, he also alluded to the fact that the Volkswagen Group's – and, more specifically, Walter de'Silva's – recent influence on the German manufacturer was shifting its attitudes: "The Volkswagen Group has a very good understanding of how much freedom a brand needs to keep its characteristics and with [Walter] as 'conductor', I feel a lot of support with design issues within the company," explained Mauer.

Nissan Leaf gets lower base price

Nissan Motor Co. will cut the base price of the slow-selling Leaf electric car by 18 percent, or $6,400, the automaker said Monday. Nissan will sell a 2013 base Leaf S for $28,800, down from $35,200 on the 2012 base model.