War of the greens as Leaf gives Volt a shock

By Freddie Fulton Motor Industry 13 August 2009 10:31 The Chevrolet Volt was gunning to be the ‘first mass-produced car with a triple-digit fuel economy,’ according to General Motors CEO Fritz Henderson. Earlier this week he announced the US’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would rate the new Chevy Volt as capable of 230mpg on the open road. The Nissan Leaf EV has picked a bone with the Volt.

Changan opens new European Designing Center in Turin

Changan celebrated the opening of its European Designing Center in Turin, Italy, last week as part of its celebration of the historic company's 150th anniversary. An audience of VIP guests and press were given grand tour of the new facility located in Rivoli near Turin after an opening ceremony filled with the pomp and pageantry we've come to expect from the Chinese car industry. The new 11,000 square meter European Designing Center is Changan's latest move to grow its business globally, having already established research and development centers at five Chinese locations as well as in Detroit USA, Nottingham UK, and Yokohama Japan.

Rolls Royce redesigns sought in new competition

Hip Shing Hong Group, Stefano Tordiglione Design and online design platform It's Liquid have launched a competition to redesign a Rolls Royce for a factory-turned-office project in Hong Kong. The contest, focused around the themes ‘Innovation', ‘Energy' and ‘Creativity', is giving the winners the chance to see their design displayed in the lobby of the new building. They will also receive a cash prize of HKD 20,000/EUR 2,000, while the second- and third-placed designers will earn themselves HKD 10,000/EUR 1,000 and HKD 5,000/EUR 500 respectively.