Thinking Automotive Design

At a time when nine new automotive plants are being built in Brazil, the production of local design studios has acquired strong significance in the market. Significantly, the best-selling cars in the country are the VW Gol and the completely new Fiat Uno, both developed locally. It's therefore no surprise that car design gains more importance in the country's cultural scenario.

Inspiration from the world of home interiors

Inspiration from the world of home and interiors is to be made regularly available to members of CDN in an innovative exchange of editorial content with the leading design resource in the design, fashion and lifestyle sector. Starting today, CDN will publish a quarterly report using images and information provided by WGSN-homebuildlife, the online trend forecasting and product design tool created for the interiors market. It is an offshoot of WGSN, the online service providing analysis, research and global creative intelligence for the fashion and apparel industry.

Ssangyong relaunches brand with Giugiaro-designed Korando

Korean brand Ssangyong is back from the dead. After looking odds-on favorite to become another automotive casualty of the global recession after Chinese owner SAIC put it into receivership in early 2009, the 4x4 specialist has found a new owner in 2010 – signing a memorandum of understanding with Indian company Mahindra & Mahindra in August – and has just re-launched its brand with a new car designed by Giugiaro. The fourth-generation Korando mid-sized crossover – prefaced by the C200 concept shown at the April 2009 Seoul motorshow – is due on sale in January 2011 pending the expected completion of the Mahindra deal in November this year.