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New BMW 2-Series Active Tourer arrives as BMW’s first front-wheel-drive car (+video)

The new BMW 2-Series Active Tourer (pictured) arrives in the UK September 2014 Many will see it as sacrilege that the new BMW 2-Series Active Tourer MPV is front-wheel-drive, but pragmatists will see it as a sensible move to extend BMW’s depth of offerings. Whichever side you come down on, the BMW 2-Series Active Tourer – previewed by the BMW Concept Active Tourer at Paris in 2012 – is a production reality and does look like it will fill very well the space in BMW’s range for a compact MPV. Despite looks that are almost the opposite of what you’d expect from a BMW – stubby nose and a high roof line; a proper BMW take on the Mercedes B-Class – the 2-Series Active Tourer still manages to exude BMW style, albeit in a more practical way to the rest of the range.

Skoda Vision C Concept is a stylish 5-door coupe

The Skoda Vision C Concept could be heading for production as an Octavia Coupe The rise and rise of Skoda since it was a Soviet skip maker has been dramatic under the banner of the VW Group, and many of its cars are the pick of the VW Group offerings. But now Skoda look to be heading in a new design direction which looks set to produce far more stylish and dramatic cars than they have to date – just like this Skoda Vision C Concept. The VisionC – seen in the design sketch from Skoda above – is a swoopy five-door coupe with a low roofline, shallow glass area and a steeply-raked windscreen; it looks like a Skoda take on the VW CC or Mercedes CLA.

The Designers, Pt.12 – Ed Welburn, General Motors

Car Design News launched its first-ever Car Design Review yearbook at the Geneva Motor Show, featuring the award-winning Production Car and Concept Car Designs of 2013. If you're interested in buying a copy of the 160-page yearbook this interview appears in, alongside trend reports, bespoke car design infographics and a special feature on Marcello Gandini, our inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award winner, Car Design Review can be purchased here. Name Ed WelburnRole General Motors VP global designAge, nationality 63, USLocation Michigan, USAEducation Howard University "From a car-design-industry perspective, 2013 was good but not great.