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Designer insights: highlights of Auto Design Prague 2014

Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, might not seem the most obvious choice for an automotive design conference. But when one considers the country's history of innovation in the arts and architecture, its long-lived automotive marques like Tatra and Skoda, and Prague's central location in Europe, it makes perfect sense. Conference speakers included the program design director for Citroën DS, Ivo Groen; Volvo vice president of design Thomas Ingenlath; Jaguar advanced design director, Julian Thomson; Gert Hildebrand, head of design for Qoros; and Johann Lemercier, program manager at Ferrari design.

Video: Buick Invicta

General Motor's Buick brand is blossoming in China, so the automaker chose the largest Chinese Auto Show this year to unveil its latest concept: the Invicta. Unlike the Riviera concept shown in Shanghai last year, the Invicta is slated for production soon given the level of refinement we saw when we viewed the car in Beijing. And unlike some market-specific new cars unveiled at the show, the Invicta will make its way to other markets across the globe. Click on the image on the left to see a video of the development and the designers who worked on the Invicta concept car.

2013 Ford Fusion Energi gets range of 620 miles

The hybrid wars continue -- much less exciting than the MyFord Touch -- after the Detroit auto show, and Ford has thrown it latest punch: the 2013 Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid. The Energi is the Blue Oval's fifth electrified vehicle to launch in the past year, and will arrive with a total gas and electric range of 620 miles. That's 120 miles more than the 2014 Honda Accord hybrid and 80 miles more than the Prius hybrid.