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Top international design talent to descend on Czech Republic for AutoDesign Prague 2013

The automotive design industry will head to Prague on 26 September to speak at the AutoDesign Prague 2013 conference at the National Technical Library. Now entering its third year, the one-day conference – organized by AutoDesign and Styling magazine – will be followed by a workshop the next day, which will focus on techniques including sketching and clay and 3D modeling. The speakers and presentation topics haven't been announced yet but last year's conference featured speakers such as Dassault Systèmes' vice president Design Experience Anne Asensio, while the 2011 edition saw presentations by speakers including Fabio Filippini, Pininfarina's vice president design and chief creative officer, and Peter Horbury, then-vice president of design at Volvo.

Volvo uses Facebook to research new interior solutions

Volvo is using Facebook to conduct market research into how drivers use their cars' interiors via its new 'You Inside' app. Users are asked to create a personal profile that includes the car they drive, their lifestyle and a list of day-to-day items they keep inside their car. The aim is to identify new design solutions based around qualitative data.

Porsche will return to Le Mans LMP1 class in 2014

Porsche have announced their intention to return to top-level sports prototype racing in 2014, with a car to compete in the LMP1 class at the Le Mans 24 Hour race. Porsche: Most successful manufacturer at Le Mans The Zuffenhausen-based carmaker has plenty of heritage to draw upon as it enters its LMP1 car development programme. Porsche have won the Le Mans 24hr race 16 times since 1970 with racing models including the 917, 956, 962 and 911GT1.