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Red-hot VW Golf R400 is headed for production

If you thought the Volkswagen Golf R400 concept displayed at the Beijing auto show seemed suspiciously like a real product -- you know, one you'll someday be able to buy rather than something trotted out to tease the world's enthusiasts -- you were on to something. VW says a production version of the car is in the works. We should clarify: We didn't get confirmation of that, exactly.

Smart Fortwo Lightshine launches

Yet another Smart Limited Edition - the Smart Fortwo Lightshine You have to hand it to Mercedes – they don’t give up on Smart (or Maybach – another expensive departure). They keep churning out new cars (well, endless new limited editions, anyway) despite sales that seem to keep falling. Last year (2010) saw Smart sales in the UK fall by 8.5% and their sales last month (December 2010) were a woeful 57% down on December 2009.

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.