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Renault turn central London in to a full-size Scalextric for the Zoe EV (video)

The Renault Zoe Scalextric cars turn on to the Embankment Even those who have never driven an electric car probably have if we count childhood exploits with Scalextric; hand-grip controllers clenched in hand seeing how fast you can go before your car tips off in a bend. So Renault decided it would be a good idea to create a full-size Scalextric track in central London, modify a pair of Renault Zoe EVs to slot in to the newly fabricated track and blat the cars round the 1.9 mile track in London controlled by competition winners from a helicopter hovering overhead. The race sees the two Zoes go head-to-head on the Scalextric track, starting out on the South Bank by the London Eye, over Westminster Bridge, past the Houses of Parliament, down the Embankment, up The Strand, over Waterloo Bridge, round the IMAX and finishing alongside the Thames at the finish line.

Nissan to open new studio in Beijing

After last week's announcement of leadership changes at Nissan's North American and European design centers, Nissan Investment Co., Ltd (NCIC), a Nissan subsidiary in China, today revealed plans to expand its global design resources with the establishment of a new design studio in Beijing. "With the addition of 20 designers, Nissan's new studio will enhance our design capabilities, as well as our product competitiveness in China and Asia where the automotive industry continues to see robust growth," said Shiro Nakamura, chief creative officer and senior vice president of design and brand. "Locating the studio where our customers live and work allows us to best respond to their needs and design vehicles that exceed their expectations." Scheduled to open early in 2011, the studio in the Chao Yang district of Beijing will be the first design facility in China established by a Japanese automaker.

Volkswagen mulls new Phaeton for the US market

Volkswagen is giving some serious thought to bringing back the Phaeton sedan to the U.S., Automotive News reports. We haven't seen the Phaeton since 2006, when it was withdrawn from the North American market after lackluster sales. Built at the same factory as the much more expensive Bentley Continental GT and sharing much of the underlying mechanicals, the Volkswagen Phaeton managed to be a slower seller in the U.S.