Toyota to unveil 2013 Avalon in New York

Toyota is set to debut an all-new US-designed sedan at the 2012 New York International Auto Show next month The teaser sketch, which only shows the new car's rear, suggests a departure from the rather bland, conservative design of the current model. The outgoing Avalon very much a traditional three-box design, whereas the teaser image suggests the new model may feature a fastback roofline in the mold of the Audi A7 and Mercedes-Benz CLS. A 'four-door coupe' if oxymorons are your thing.

Changan opens new European Designing Center in Turin

Changan celebrated the opening of its European Designing Center in Turin, Italy, last week as part of its celebration of the historic company's 150th anniversary. An audience of VIP guests and press were given grand tour of the new facility located in Rivoli near Turin after an opening ceremony filled with the pomp and pageantry we've come to expect from the Chinese car industry. The new 11,000 square meter European Designing Center is Changan's latest move to grow its business globally, having already established research and development centers at five Chinese locations as well as in Detroit USA, Nottingham UK, and Yokohama Japan.

Peugeot 208

Peugeot today unveiled the all-new 208, which will replace the 207 in spring 2012. Entirely new from the ground up, the French firm's latest B segment model is said to ‘represent a true generation leap' over its predecessor and embody ‘the principles of agility and efficiency'. "The strength of the 208 lies in its style: it is a real ball of energy," says Peugeot's design director, Gilles Vidal.