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AW Design Forum: Style remains key as transportation systems evolve

The entire way Americans view transportation is going to change, predicts industry expert David Muyres, and designers will be key in making new methods of mobility desirable. Speaking at the AW Design Forum on Thursday morning in Detroit, Muyres said transportation needs to be looked at as a complete system, where cars, cities and technologies--such as the electrical grid--all interact. But for this to work, the cars need to remain exciting, said Muyres.

Mercedes-Benz considering Aston Martin buyout

Mercedes-Benz is reportedly considering a deal to buyout sports car manufacturer Aston Martin, fuelling rumours that the canned Aston Martin Lagonda SUV concept from 2009 (pictured above) could once again be back on. The move would see Merc increase its current 5% stake in the British brand following a deal announced last year to supply AMG engines for Aston’s next generation of sports cars. On Bing: see pictures of the Aston Martin Lagonda SUV concept Find out how much a used Aston Martin costs on Auto Trader It’s no secret the firm has been toying with the idea of a premium SUV following the Lagonds concept, so with Mercedes technical expertise and existing model range, it opens up potential new models to Aston Martin.

Infotainment in cars could get a boost from backup-camera mandate

A federal mandate to require backup cameras in all vehicles, expected Feb. 29, will be a bonanza for suppliers of collision-avoidance equipment. But the mandate also could provide an unintended boost to the infotainment industry.