Formula 1 2012: The Cars [w/video]

Nine of the 12 Formula 1 teams have released images and details of their cars for the 2012 World Championship as the first day of pre-season testing draws to a close at the Jerez circuit in Spain. Motor sport may fall slightly outside of Car Design News' usual remit, but the big story this year is the new 'stepped nose', which all teams bar McLaren have introduced to comply with new safety regulations, much to the chagrin of aestheticists. And with designers such as Daniel Simon (he produced the livery for HRT last season) and Peter Stevens (most notable for the Brabham cars of the 1980s) involved with the sport over the years, it's always interesting to check out the season's new machines.

Italdesign Giugiaro debuts electric Clipper MPV

The Volkswagen T-ROC wasn't the only Geneva Motor Show concept unveiled this week that uses the Golf platform, Italdesign Giugiaro unveiled an MPV concept that managed to turn quite a few heads. Italdesign is owned by Volkswagen, so this design and engineering exercise seemed like a no-brainer, allowing the company to show off an extra concept car in an entirely different wrapper. The Clipper an all-wheel drive six-seat MPV sitting on the MQB platform, which Volkswagen is keen to expand beyond the Golf and the next-generation Scirocco, and it features two electric motors producing 149-hp each, one for each axle.

Lamborghini Sesto Elemento concept

Lamborghini revealed the hugely anticipated Sesto Elemento concept at the 2010 Paris motor show. Based on the Gallardo supercar, the Sesto Elemento (six elements in the Italian sports car maker's native tongue) is a technological marvel, created entirely in carbon fiber to bring the vehicle's overall weight down to less than 1000kg. Read our opinions of the Sesto Elemento concept in our 2010 Paris Motor Show Highlights, and see the photo gallery (which includes all six teaser photos) by clicking the link below.