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Report: Interior Motives China Conference 2009 – Day 2

After a boat trip down the Huangpo River in the evening of the first day to give delegates and speakers a chance to mix more informally, it was soon time to get back on with the second day of the conference. This saw a speaker and panel line-up including experts from Lotus, Bertone, Geely, the Royal College of Art, Tsinghua University and Art Center Pasadena, covering sessions as diverse as environmental design, better car design education and brand identity. Session 5 - Eco design future This environmentally focused session was kicked off by a thoughtful speech from Nathan Mullinix, VP research and development for leather supplier and conference sponsor Eagle Ottawa.

Used car market pressure eases

AN INCREASE in the number of used cars coming into the market has “taken the edge off prices” and calmed some corners of the industry, according to used car pricing experts CAP. A greater influx of part-exchange cars arriving at dealers is partly responsible, and with many franchised dealers focusing for the time being on selling those vehicles, competition to acquire stock on the open market has decreased. CAP reports that the pressure has been lifted on some dealers who had become frustrated at how expensive it was becoming to source cars at fair prices.

Concept Car of the Week: Mazda Ibuki (2003)

With the Ibuki, Mazda designers synthesized the most successful of the first generation MX-5's iconic elements and evolved their forms to make them even more memorable and simple. To do so, they used a strong geometric theme throughout the car inside and out: LED headlamps; front air intake; tail lamps; rear view mirrors; release handles and interior details down to the pedals – every shape follow the same oval theme. Zooming out, the silhouette – as well as the top view – is also oval, making the Ibuki look more like a toy than a car, which is a real bonus for a small roadster.