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BMW & Toyota agree joint development of new sports car

BMW and Toyota have signed a binding agreement to co-develop a new sports car and continue with co-developed and shared technology. The way forward for car makers seems to be either to be as big as possible for the benefits of economy of scale, or to work together on joint products to cut development costs. Which is why BMW and Toyota are getting cosy.

Steve Mattin appointed Design Director at Volvo Cars

 Volvo Car Corporation has appointed British designer Steve Mattin as Vice President and Design Director, who joins the company on 1 May following a long career at DaimlerChrysler, where he is currently Senior Design Manager with several major design projects under his responsibility. Steve Mattin is well respected in the automotive design community, and has a real passion for premium cars, which he has proved during his 17 years at DaimlerChrysler. Steve will report to Volvo Cars President and CEO, Hans-Olov Olsson as well as J Mays, group vice president of Design and Chief Creative Officer of Ford Motor Company.

Audi shifts to eight-speeds for most models

A formal press conference probably won't happen until this summer, but we hear that Audi dealers have received their 2011 order guides, and it looks as though the company will be going from 0 to about 70 percent of U.S. sales being eight-speed automatic transmissions. Beginning this fall, the eight-speed will replace today's six-speed automatic in the A4 2.0-liter turbo sedan and wagon, the A5 2.0-liter turbo coupe and cabriolet, the Q5 2.0-liter turbo, the Q7 3.0-liter turbo, the Q7 diesel, the Q7 with the 3.0-liter supercharged V6 and the all-new A8 and A8L with the 4.2-liter V8.