Automotive on 2040-parts.com

Peugeot Exalt concept to bring shark skin suit to Beijing

Peugeot has 'accidentally' leaked an image of its Exalt concept car ahead of its debut at the Beijing auto show next Sunday. The four-door sedan follows the form language introduced by the 2010 SR1 concept, but is perhaps most closely related to the Onyx of 2012 in terms of execution if not format. As with the Onyx, the Exalt features a series of innovative, natural materials – something PSA design director Jean-Pierre Ploué confirmed to Car Design News would become a Peugeot hallmark – including an exterior surface finish inspired by shark skin.

Coventry MA Automotive Design/Vehicle Interiors exhibition 2010

As the winter takes grip on the northern hemisphere, CDN travel to Coventry, the birthplace of the British car industry – and many a car designer – to catch up with this year's MA Automotive Design and Vehicle Interiors students for their biannual exhibition, held in the city's impressive Transport Museum. This year 15 students, led by tutors Aaamer Mahmud and CDN contributor, Nick Hull, are completing the 16-month postgraduate course. Carrosse Stephane Krumenacker Krumenacker's personal interest in (built) environmental philosophy dictated his approach to this project, which started with a scenario rather than a product.

Volvo V40 (2012) first official pictures

This is the all-new Volvo V40, the Swedish car company’s latest rival to the Ford Focus, VW Golf et al. It will be officially unveiled at the 2012 Geneva motor show next month. Volvo is being particularly bullish about the prospects of its new V40, with Volvo president and CEO Stefan Jacoby claiming the new model ‘will give our toughest competitors a headache’.