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Video: Yasushi Nakamuta on Mazda 3's 'unique' design process

It may be leaden with PR-talk but this short presentation by Yasushi Nakamuta, Mazda's director of advanced design studio at the press unveiling of the new Mazda 3 in Melbourne is still worth a couple of minutes of your time. But while the 3 is undeniably attractive we can't help but feel that the 'unique' design process Nakamuta describes (which appears wholly conventional to us) has resulted in little more than a thoroughly normal product. Take a look for yourself at the video to your left.

New Mercedes A Class #YOUDRIVE advert plugs in to X Factor

Mercedes are continuing some innovative marketing for the new A Class with the #YOUDRIVE campaign launching during X Factor. That must have worked to a degree – certainly as far as the Twitter aspect goes – as Mercedes is having another outing with another hashtag – #YouDrive – and a new marketing campaign for the A Class where viewers ’control’ the advert they’re seeing. Mercedes is kicking off the #YouDrive campaign during X Factor next Saturday (5th October) with a three part story featuring the tale of a young music star trying to get to a secret gig the authorities want to close down (Germans advocating the defying of authority?

American Suzuki to pull out of U.S. auto market, file Chapter 11 bankruptcy

American Suzuki Motor Corp., beset by low sales, cutthroat competition and unfavorable foreign exchange rates, said it will pull out of the U.S. auto market and file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The company, in a statement today, said it will continue its motorcycle and marine engine business units and will continue to honor customer warranties.