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Winner, Winner Car-Guy Dinner! Celebrity chef Fieri gets wild Garage Mahal to keep toys, friends rockin'

In the vernacular of rock-and-roll TV chef Guy Fieri, his new car crib is way off the hook. Built for Fieri as a DIY Network television showpiece, the two-car-plus garage space is like the owner himself--flashy, flamboyant and full-on car-guy comfortable. Back in the spring, AutoWeek spent time with Fieri and watched as he doted on and drooled over his cars.

The Hidden Work of Design Consultancies

Most major car companies carry out most of their design work themselves, with dedicated design departments increasingly capable of handling every aspect of the design process. But few car companies do not use the services of external car design consultancies for some smaller projects, and many smaller car companies use such consultancies to supplement their more limited in-house design facilities on larger design projects. Throughout the world there are numerous companies offering these design services to car companies.

Future products: Kia seeks lively, upscale look

Kia's redesigned Optima sedan and the Cadenza replacement for the Amanti, both due next year, reflect an emphasis on creating a livelier and more upscale look for the once-bland brand. Indeed, styling has been a crucial element of Kia's new-product push in the past 18 months. The team at Kia Design Center America near Los Angeles--part of the automaker's global design network led by onetime Audi design chief Peter Schreyer--has helped set the new styling direction.