Honda Accord 98-02 Right Passanger Side Door Handle W/bezel on 2040-parts.com

Carbon-fiber parts and a software fix help create a lighter, faster Fiat

Chrysler Group's Mopar parts brand and Italian supplier Magneti Marelli have teamed up on a design exercise based on the 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth that shaved weight and added horsepower. The vehicle, called the Venom, has a number of carbon fiber components -- hood and side mirrors, for example -- that makes it about 200 pounds lighter than the 2,512-pound Abarth. The Venom uses software updates and additional exhaust components to boost the Abarth's standard 160-hp 1.4-liter turbocharged engine's output by as much as 25 percent.

Land Rover Freelander (2012) facelift pictures

Yes, the sleek wannabe-coupe Range Rover Evoque may be stealing all the headlines for Land Rover at the moment, but the Freelander remains the core entry-level model in the Land Rover range. For the 2013 model year, Land Rover is giving the car an exterior freshen-up, a more upmarket interior, and new trim options. It'll be shown at the Moscow motor show from 29 August 2012.

The Designers, Pt7 – Ralph Gilles, Chrysler Group

Car Design News launched its first-ever Car Design Review yearbook at the Geneva Motor Show, featuring the award-winning Production Car and Concept Car Designs of 2013. If you're interested in buying a copy of the 160-page yearbook this interview appears in, alongside trend reports, bespoke car design infographics and a special feature on Marcello Gandini, our inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award winner, Car Design Review can be purchased here. Name Ralph GillesRole VP design, Chrysler GroupAge, nationality 44, USLocation Michigan, USAEducation Center for Creative Studies, Detroit "Watching the Cherokee be born in 2013 was a very radical design departure for Jeep.