Door Power Window Switch-window Switch Front Left Standard Ds-1451 on 2040-parts.com

Make like a tree and Leaf: We drive Nissan's coming electric vehicle

From behind the wheel, the production version of the Nissan Leaf electric car is smooth and silent, feels nearly friction-free and offers all the prodigious torque inherent in an electric car. That's what we found after a short drive around Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday. The body you see in the photo is a Versa.

BMW DesignworksUSA heads to China

In light of its growth within China, BMW plans to open a DesignworksUSA studio in the country. Building on its studio portfolio of Los Angeles, Munich and Singapore, the Shanghai studio will be added to the repertoire in the second half of 2011. The DesignworksUSA project acts as a 'think-tank' for all of BMW's brands, as well as creating design for clients from diverse industries.

Hyundai i30

Though CDN was invited to attend a preview of the all-new Hyundai i30 ahead of its official unveiling at the 2011 Frankfurt motor show, these are the only images we're able to show you of the Korean automaker's C-segment hatchback until next week. "Through the profile of the new generation i30, a strong character line runs over the front and rear wheelarches all the way to the tail lamps," says Thomas Bürkle, Chief Designer at Hyundai Motor Europe. "A softer, lower character line rises up the car's flank creating a play of light and shadow - a fundamental feature of fluidic sculpture." The next evolution of the current i30 will be shown alongside the new i40 saloon and the new 1+2 door Veloster coupe on the company's Frankfurt show stand, which is claimed to reflect Hyundai's new brand direction - 'New Thinking, New Possibilities'.