Toyota HSD concept

The Yaris HSD, as presented in Geneva, previews Toyota's intentions of bringing Hybrid technology to the B-Segment, as well as Toyota's full hybrid roll out across all models in its range. Retaining the familiar Yaris outwardly appearance (and previewing the next generation Yaris) the HSD is interspersed with ‘Hybrid' cues, to intimate at the hybrid powertrain beneath the body. From the pearl white paint to the light blue hue that illuminates certain aspects, there is an underlying emphasis on the fact that this car is a hybrid.

The Future Role of the Vehicle Designer

The vehicle design department at the Royal College of Art hosted the second in a series of five lectures looking at the future of the profession last week. Moving on from the previous week's topic of sustainability, this debate explored the future roles and responsibilities of the vehicle designer. Head of department Dale Harrow began by posing the question "Is it time to rethink – do we still need the car?" Although still relevant, Harrow's ultimate answer to this was that the profession was about to see marked change, with the end to an era where "designers are locked behind closed doors in studios".

Many enthusiast rides post strong sales in 2010

The fast and the luxurious models from a wide range of carmakers sold briskly in 2010, offering heart to enthusiasts that their favorite drives have bright outlooks and that the auto business is on the rebound. Let's start with the muscle cars: As predicted in December, Chevrolet's Camaro sales topped the Ford Mustang's numbers for the first time in 25 years. In the Camaro's first full year since production ended after the 2002 model year, Chevy rung up 81,299 Camaro sales, beating Mustang by 7,583 cars.