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Last call for entries: IM Design Awards

As the deadline for entries to the 2010 Interior Motives Design Awards approaches – all designs must be received by 10 July – details of the judging panel and the upcoming awards ceremony in Paris are firming up. Judging the hundreds of student designs this year will be a panel of industry experts that includes such influential figures as Amko Leenarts, Interior Design Director, Peugeot; Robin Page, Interior Design Director, Bentley; Wolfgang Müller-Pietralla, Leader VW Future Research; Michael Robinson, Design Director, Stile Bertone; Andreas Stump, Head of Advanced Interior Design, Citroën; Romulus Rost, Chief Interior Designer, Volkswagen Advanced Design, Potsdam; and Euan Sey, Editor of Interior Motives magazine. The competition is open to students enrolled at any accredited undergraduate or graduate design degree programme, both in automotive and non-automotive disciplines – those studying fashion design, industrial design, architecture and other similar fields are also eligible.

Volkswagen Taigun concept (2014): VW’s new baby SUV

It seems the tailgate-mounted spare wheel could be making a comeback – first Ford launches the EcoSport, now VW has followed suit with this updated Taigun concept. Both cars are small crossover SUVs, aimed at emerging markets, particularly Brazil and India. With the EcoSport appearing in UK dealerships this May, however, we don’t think it will be too long before a production version of the Taigun offers VW’s take on the idea to European buyers as well.

Chevrolet Trax is a rebadged Opel / Vauxhall Mokka

Chevrolet Trax - arrives at Paris in September The Chevrolet Trax – a compact SUV – has been revealed and will make its debut at the 2012 Paris Motor Show.  We’ve already seen the Buick Encore in the US become the Opel and Vauxhall Mokka in Europe, and now it’s to morph again in to the Chevrolet Trax, a compact SUV for GM to sell under another brand. GM has revealed that Chevrolet take on the Encore/Mokka will arrive at the 2012 Paris Motor Show in September before going on sale in the UK and Europe – and 140 countries around the world – in spring 2013. With Chevrolet planning the Trax as a world car it seems likely that the engines on offer will be a mix of those found in the Buick Encore and the Vauxhall Mokka.