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SAIC wins LA Auto Show Design Challenge

China's SAIC, the parent company of Roewe and MG brands (yes, Morris Garages and what used to be Rover), took the top spot in the LA Auto Show Design challenge with its Mobiliant Concept, beating other contestants like BMW DesignworksUSA, Subaru, Mazda, Changfeng, Quoros, and others. The theme for this year's challenge at the LA Auto Show was "Biomimicry & Mobility 2025: Nature's Answer to Human Challenges." Entrants were directed to propose design concepts that integrated the concept of biomimicry into transportation concepts. Quite a challenge and quite an open theme, especially when you consider that last year's theme was pretty straightforward: "Highway Patrol Vehicles in the Year 2025." In 2012 the Subaru SHARC concept took the top prize.

GM transplants Chevrolet Volt technology into the Cadillac ELR hybrid

One of the headliners of the 2009 Detroit auto show, the Cadillac Converj concept, will become production reality. Cadillac confirmed some details on Wednesday afternoon and said that the coupe will be called the ELR. It will use a T-shaped lithium-ion battery pack, and a generator kicks on to extend range, similar to the Chevrolet Volt.

Modeling for Meadow Brook: Cars, and dresses, on display at concours preview

Cars weren't the only models on display during a preview for the Concours D'Elegance of America at Meadow Brook. Wearing dresses by designer Bob Mackie, three female models also posed for the cameras. Mackie, who is known for dressing a number of celebrities, including Cher, originally designed the dresses to be worn in the 1983 North American International Auto Show.