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CAR interviews Mazda design chief Ikuo Maeda (2010)

By Tim Pollard Motor Industry 02 September 2010 13:30 CAR has been out to Italy to see the world premier of the new Mazda Shinari concept car. It's the car that ushers in chief designer Ikuo Maeda's new Kodo design mantra, a sharper, faster stylistic treatment that will take over from Laurens van den Acker's Nagare vision. Maeda is the first Japanese design boss for a generation – it seems that Mazda has looked within after a series of European creative brains who each stayed for five years or less, arguably not long enough to see through any substantial aesthetic change.

Jeep Cherokee now on sale – UK Jeep sales set to double

The new Jeep Cherokee (above) is now on sale in the UK Jeep may have the sort of SUV, off-road credibility as Land Rover, but they’ve failed miserably to make the most of that in recent years, particularly on this side of the Pond. But things are changing for Jeep, and the arrival of the new Jeep Cherokee – with it’s contentious, but individual, looks – promises to give Jeep a real shot in the arm in its quest to rebuild sales in the UK. With a choice of two diesel engines – 140 hp and 170 hp versions of the 2.0 litre diesel – a choice of four trim levels - Longitude, Longitude+, Limited and Trailhawk – and a 3.2 litre petrol engine for the hardcore Trailhawk version (available from the end of 2014), Jeep has a strong offering.

New Fiat Panda Cross is a rugged Panda 4×4 baby SUV

The new Fiat Panda Cross (pictured) debuts at Geneva It might not be the top of everyone’s wish list as a baby SUV, but the Fiat Panda Cross has always been better than you’d imagine, and the latest Panda Cross – revealed ahead of a debut at the Geneva Motor Show – looks even more able than the last Panda Cross and better looking too. The 2014 Fiat Panda Cross (although it will really be a 2015 model by the time it arrives in the UK) looks like a proper baby SUV thanks to its new front bumper with a satin titanium skid plate full of round cut-outs, new back bumper with skid plate, new lights, big wheel arches, roof bars and a new set of 15″ alloys (with ‘All Seasons’ 185/65R15 tyres), whilst the interior gets Climate, Blue&Me Infotainment and height-adjustable driver’s seat. The Panda Cross also gets proper baby SUV toys like automatic drive between the axles according to grip, torque control of individual wheels when off-road and hill descent control for controlled downhill descents.