Ah, to be in Paris . . .

Well, I'm bummed. The Paris motor show press days are next week, and I'm not going. That's right; while my colleagues are cavorting in one of the world's great cities, I'll be here in the Paris of the Midwest, holding down the proverbial fort.

Brief 4 – GMC: CDN–GM Interactive Design Competition

Once again, Car Design News and General Motors are holding an Interactive Design Competition.There are five design briefs to choose from, each set by GM's design teams, and you're invited to submit your entry on the competition website: http://www.cardesigncontest.com/ The fourth of our briefs comes from GMC, GM's truck-and-utility-only brand, and asks you to design of the interior or exterior of a GMC show car to be revealed at the 2030 North American International Auto Show. Your design should focus on a future interpretation of GMC's ‘industrial sculpture' design philosophy. You'll need to bear in mind who the customer for this truck or utility vehicle is, and consider what is the purpose and application of the vehicle.

UK new car sales hit a ten-year high

UK new car sales continue to scale new heights, with more new cars sold in March 2014 than in any month in the past decade. Sales figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) reveal that 464,824 new cars were registered last month – a 17.7% rise over March 2014. It continues the trend of rocketing sales, with year-to-date registrations up 13.7%.