Interior Motives China Conference 2010: Day 1

Despite Europe being grounded due to volcanic ash, the third Interior Motives China conference got underway in Beijing with a record number of delegates and speakers – proof, as if it were needed, that this event is now one of the most important in the global car design calendar. This year's theme was 'New brands and the search for a design identity', and among the audience were young Chinese designers keen to learn more about international car design techniques, as well as veteran western designers hoping to gain a deeper understanding of the market they are creating vehicles for.  Session 1: The Market for Design Edward Wong, Director of Transportation Design at China Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA), set the mood for the conference in his long, flowing 'Chang San' robe (very traditional Chinese attire). He opened the conference and invited panellists to share their views on what China's needs are and explore what makes the market so unique.

McLaren P1: The Bahrain Photo Shoot

On a tour of the Middle East – and ahead of a debut at the Geneva Motor Show – the McLaren P1 has been photographed at the Bahrain International Circuit. That drip of information has included everything from the development version of the P1 on video, the first view of the instruments on the P1 and, most recently, the first interior photos of the P1. Now, whilst McLaren are busy touring the P1 round the Middle East, they’ve taken the opportunity to get a new set of stunning photos of the McLaren P1 at the Bahrain International Circuit showing the P1 in a set of beautifully lit and shot photos.

Ferrari 458 Italia Spider leaks out. Probably.

Ferrari 458 Italia Spider leaks out - probably It’s only a couple of weeks since we reported that Ferrari would be taking the convertible 458 to Frankfurt, and now we have a set of three leaked photos of the Ferrari 458 Italia Spider in all its glory, doubtless leaked out from a magazine printers. We’re not completely convinced the photos of the 458 Spider are real – they seem familiar somehow and could be good Photoshops – but if they are real there’s no doubt Ferrari won’t be amused – as Italians seldom are under these circumstances. But assuming the photos are real they just tell us what we already know – the 458 Spider is the regular 458 Italia with its roof chopped off.