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UK car manufacturing jumps 12%

CAR PRODUCTION is accelerating ahead, driven by demand from Europe, according to the latest figures. A total of 142,158 cars were manufactured in the UK in March - a 12% rise on the March 2013 figure, the Society of Motor Manufacturers (SMMT) said. Last month's figure brought the 2014 production total to nearly 405,000 - a 2.9% increase on the January-March 2013 total.

University of Huddersfield Degree Show 2010

The University of Huddersfield Transportation Design course recently exhibited the work of this year's graduating students as part of the School of Art and Design degree show. Huddersfield's course is very much a transportation – rather than purely automotive design-based degree – and the work of this year's graduating class therefore spans a broad range of projects, from automotive design, bikes and trains through to work that draws strongly from the world of product and interior design. Land Rover LRS-1 Paul Davey Research into the history of the Land Rover Defender, which included extensive research with owners old and new, led Davey down the route of defining a new entry-level model for the company.

Concept Car of the Week: Honda Kiwami (2003)

As part of Honda's exploration into new, clean-performing technologies, the Kiwami concept was created to test public acceptance of the idea of a large, fuel cell-powered luxury sedan.  Unveiled in 2003, the simple yet striking design seemed like a Japanese twist on the Renault Vel Satis concept, which shared a similar wedge profile, wide stance and minimalist approach.  However, the Kiwami found its own interpretation of modern luxury, expressed through elegantly integrated technology rather than with crystal champagne glasses.  Up front, a full-width LED strip headlamp sat flush with the flat bonnet and the rectangular bumper to create a design of primitive beauty.  Further examples of the same simple Japanese aesthetic are found around the car, including the uncluttered body panels and a full-width tail-lamp graphic that matched the front theme.  The dramatic proportions of the interior were closely related to the package of the hydrogen power plant. Unlike other manufacturers at the time, Honda engineers did not create a 'skateboard' fuel cell chassis below the cabin. Instead, a sideways H-shaped layout for the control unit, ultracapacitor, fuel cell stack, hydrogen storage and other components was used, helping to create a lower center of gravity.