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Michelin Challenge Design 2007: The not so ugly truth about rising vehicle safety standards

Can cars be safe and beautiful at the same time? That may not have been the case a few decades ago when automakers were forced to hang those big, ugly so-called federal bumpers off the ends of their vehicles.  With vehicle safety standards on the rise around the globe are designers today feeling a little '70s deja vu when it comes to meeting the challenges of making cars safe as well as more fuel efficient? "(Back then) we said it was the end of automotive styling," says Patrick Le Quement, senior vice president for corporate design at Renault and one of the world's most influential automotive designers.

New Lexus GS 300h costs from £31,440

The New Lexus GS 300h (pictured) will cost from £31,440 in the UK Lexus revealed a second hybrid version of the GS at Shanghai in the spring – the Lexus GS 300h – which offers better economy and lower running costs, especially for company car drivers, and it’s now on sale in the UK. Lexus has introduced a new entry-level SE spec for the GS 300h to make its headline price even more attractive, but the GS 300h SE still gets 17″ alloys, DAB, DVD, Cruise, push-button start, parking sensors, xenons and electric, heated front seats. Other trim levels are Luxury, F Sport and Premier – as on the rest of the GS range – which you’ll need to dig in to if you want stuff like leather and SatNav, but opting for the base trim isn’t too hairshirt and will save you a few bob if you have BIK to pay.

Renault, Caterham form joint venture to build sports cars

Two lightweight two-seat sports cars, likely to be on sale in 2015 or 2016, will be the first output of a joint venture between French automaker Renault and U.K. sports car maker Caterham that was announced Monday. Renault will put its Alpine factory in Dieppe and its 300-person workforce into the 50:50 joint venture.