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Volvo picks up Red Dot Design Award for new connectivity system

Volvo's Sensus Connected Touch connectivity system with the world's first voice-activated integrated Spotify connection has been awarded a 2013 Red Dot Design Award. The Sensus Connected Touch accessory turns the integrated 7-inch display into an infrared, beam-scanned touch screen that can be used even when wearing gloves. The system can be controlled using the touchscreen, the steering wheel or the center stack, while you can also voice-activate all music sources. Alain Visser, senior vice president of marketing, sales and customer service at Volvo, says, "The Red Dot Design Award confirms that this approach to an intuitive, human-centric user experience fulfils modern car owners' desire to remain constantly connected also when driving." The WiFi connection can be made using either a car-mounted 3G/4G-dongle or the driver's mobile phone, and the data is transferred by the WiFi between the phone and the Sensus Connected Touch.

Mercedes start the tease for the 2014 S63 AMG

Mercedes are teasing the arrival of the new S63 AMG (pictured) The 2014 Mercedes S Class has already made its debut, at least in ‘standard’ guise, but there’s a lot more to come. There’s the S-Class Coupe – which will replace the current CL – and there’s the new S-Class Pullman – which will replace the Maybach. But the next instalment for the new S-Class will be the performance S63 AMG, which we’re expecting to arrive at Frankfurt in a couple of months, and ahead of that Mercedes is starting to tease its arrival.

Pulsar Bursts Onto Family Hatch Scene

IT’S GOING to get ugly in the fiercely competitive family hatchback market soon, as Nissan has decided to rejoin the fray with its newly launched Pulsar model. Clearly aiming at the likes of Volkswagen’s Golf and Ford’s Focus, Nissan bosses are already talking up their new challenger ahead of the car’s autumn debut. Styled to complement the popular Qashqai, the Pulsar promises to major on quality, refinement and cabin space plus boast a raft of hi-tech kit to make the ownership experience safer and more enjoyable.