Renault Dezir concept (2010) first official pictures

These are the first pictures of the Renault Dezir, a sporty Clio-sized electric concept set to be unveiled at the Paris motor show in September 2010. This is the first car produced under the watch of new design director Laurens van den Acker, who's charged with reinvigorating the Renault range after Patrick le Quement's departure. The Dezir concept car heralds a new design language for Renault, which has seen the small car market become increasingly chic (think Citroen DS3) yet it's soldiered on with just the Clio and, now, the Wind Roadster.

Kia Naimo concept

As the Seoul Motor Show starts today, Thursday 31st March, Kia is debuting the Naimo all-electric concept. The concept takes its name from the Korean word ‘Ne-mo' meaning square shape - something that lends itself to the Naimo's aesthetic. The crossover utility vehicle, or CUV, was conceived by Kia's international design team in Seoul and is characterized by its ‘simple lines and solid, muscular stance.' The simple overall design sports such interjecting details as the wrap-around windscreen and asymmetric sunroof.  This mixture of simple and complex is a reference to the common traits of many traditional Korean arts and crafts.  The Naimo's interior was designed to evoke a strong sense of tranquility and features hand-crafted materials throughout such as Korean oak on the floor and door cards, with "Han-ji" paper being used for the head lining. Juxtaposing these traditional elements are modern features such as the transparent organic led display instrument panel.

Seeing and being seen are keys to winter-driving safety

It's that time of the year when we here at AutoWeek feel duty-bound to give you a primer on winter-driving safety. We are compelled to tell you to steer in the direction of the skid, to stock emergency supplies in your trunk, to make sure your car is shod with the proper rubber to get you through the season. But winter brings more than snow, ice and cold.