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BMW DesignworksUSA heads to China

In light of its growth within China, BMW plans to open a DesignworksUSA studio in the country. Building on its studio portfolio of Los Angeles, Munich and Singapore, the Shanghai studio will be added to the repertoire in the second half of 2011. The DesignworksUSA project acts as a 'think-tank' for all of BMW's brands, as well as creating design for clients from diverse industries.

Vauxhall-designed Santa's sleigh (2009)

Vauxhall's version of Santa's sleigh – complete with Voltec plug-in hybrid tech By Tim Pollard First Official Pictures 14 December 2009 20:11 Here's the Vauxhall take on the design project we've set them this Christmas: to design a Vauxhall-branded Santa's sleigh. The boffins at Vauxhall/Opel design HQ have come up with this – a development of the latest GM Europe form language with hints of new Astra here and Ampera plug-in hybrid there.Vauxhall officials claim their Christmas sleigh features specially adapted E-REV tech to ensure Santa has no range anxiety as he flies around the world on Christmas Eve. Very zeitgeisty.'Santa's pleased as punch because he doesn't need to worry about the methane emissions generated by the outgoing reindeers on his 2008 model,' said a spokesman, while munching mince pies and throwing Magna crackers on the log fire.

Nissan e-NV200 electric van gets a headline starting price of £13,393

The Nissan e-NV200 electric van (pictured) – the start of an EV revolution for commercial vehicles? We’ve always been reluctant to see the electric car as a proper replacement for an ICE car, but an electric van for commercial deliveries in a reasonably confined area is a different animal altogether. So the arrival of the Nissan e-NV200 electric van is a big deal and could revolutionise how deliveries are made in our towns and cities, usefully shifting not just CO2, but NoX and particulates off to where the electricity is generated and making much less noise too.