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Nissan to open new studio in Beijing

After last week's announcement of leadership changes at Nissan's North American and European design centers, Nissan Investment Co., Ltd (NCIC), a Nissan subsidiary in China, today revealed plans to expand its global design resources with the establishment of a new design studio in Beijing. "With the addition of 20 designers, Nissan's new studio will enhance our design capabilities, as well as our product competitiveness in China and Asia where the automotive industry continues to see robust growth," said Shiro Nakamura, chief creative officer and senior vice president of design and brand. "Locating the studio where our customers live and work allows us to best respond to their needs and design vehicles that exceed their expectations." Scheduled to open early in 2011, the studio in the Chao Yang district of Beijing will be the first design facility in China established by a Japanese automaker.

Lexus offers IS 350C F-Sport Special Edition

Lexus is livening up its IS 350C with the introduction of the F-Sport Special Edition model. With accessories taken from the Lexus F-Sport parts catalog, the limited-edition offers open-air driving enthusiasts a better-handling and more aggressive-looking IS C right off the showroom floor. Building off the 306-hp IS 350C, Lexus installs Bilstein-developed shocks, shorter springs, thicker antiroll bars and newly styled 19-inch wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport tires.

Obama: U.S. fleets must use alternative-fuel vehicles by 2015

President Barack Obama said Wednesday that starting in 2015, all new cars and trucks bought by the federal government will be hybrids, electric vehicles and other alternative-fuel vehicles. The government operates more than 600,000 fleet vehicles. Obama, in a far-ranging speech about U.S.