Ferrari Gto Classic Car Lapel Pin (pb1) on 2040-parts.com

Infiniti goes back to the Q

Infiniti will completely rename its product portfolio next summer, returning to the letter “Q” from the brand's early history for every car, and “QX” for every Infiniti crossover and SUV. The company is undertaking the change to prepare for a broader array of future products around the world, says Johan de Nysschen, worldwide president of the brand. Infiniti's current lineup of sedans will become the Q50, Q60 and Q70.

Schools Award and CDN Design Schools League Table

Schools as well as students are being recognized in this year's CDN-Interior Motives Student Design Awards, just launched, with a special award being introduced for the school whose students have the most success in the competition. CDN acknowledges that great teaching, as well as raw student talent, is needed to shape the work of the next generation of car designers. So along with the student finalists in 2012 will come finalist schools, as measured by the success of their students in getting to the shortlist stage of the competition, in becoming category finalists, or in winning an award or becoming overall winner.

Consumer Reports slams new Honda Civic

Honda Motor Co., still struggling with supply shortages of the redesigned 2012 Civic after the March earthquake in Japan, took a slap in the face today when Consumer Reports rated the new Civic "too low to be recommended." The 2012 Honda Civic dropped 17 points, from a very-good score of 78 to a mediocre 61, in the latest Consumer Reports road test of small cars. Previous Honda Civic models have often been Consumer Reports' highest rated small sedans, as well as Top Picks in five of the past 10 years. But the redesigned model was slammed for the cheapness of its interior, poor ride quality, long stopping distances and loud interior noise.