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Car Design of the Year Award winners announced at Car Design Night Geneva 2012

The winners of the 2011 Car Design of the Year awards, as voted for by the Car Design News readership, were unveiled on the evening of the first Geneva motor show press day at the annual Car Design Night at La Sip nightclub in the Swiss capital. The event was one of the busiest in recent memory, with over 400 designers in attendance. The winners of the annual Car Design of the Year Awards were presented by Car Design News' Editor, Owen Ready.

Toyota talks powertrain plans

After trailing many of its competitors in the recent engine- and transmission-technology wars, Toyota Motor Corp. will launch a swath of powertrains in the next several years, a top powertrain r&d executive said. Koei Saga, senior managing officer in charge of drivetrain r&d, said that Toyota is investing heavily in turbocharged engines, larger displacement Atkinson cycle engines, continuously variable and fixed-gear automatic transmissions, and new hybrid and fuel cell technologies.

Chrysler and Lancia brands to share products in Europe

Fiat S.p.A. aims to integrate the Chrysler brand more closely with the Italian automaker's upscale Lancia marque in Europe with the two brands likely to share products from small hatchbacks to large sedans. The appointment of Lancia CEO Olivier Francois as Chrysler brand boss is a step toward the goal, a Fiat source said.