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How Mercedes sees into the future

Mercedes' crystal ball is named Alexander Mankowsky. At 56, he's dressed for CES in khaki trousers and a leather vest, with thin glasses perched on a round face; his frizzy white hair resembles what Einstein's would if he were caught in a wind tunnel. He might be a long-distant uncle, or he might be Doc Brown, fresh from the DeLorean.

Seat IBX concept (2011) at 2011 Geneva motor show

On the eve of the 2011 Geneva motor show, Seat has unveiled this IBX crossover concept at the Volkswagen Group’s pre-show party. Designed under the watch of ex-Lamborghini designer Luc Donckerwolke, it’s the second concept car to preview Seat’s future design language, and a strong hint that company is preparing to launch a new, small SUV. Yes, and in 2010 we saw two versions of the IBE electric sports coupe – one without an interior, and one with.

Volvo drops plans to compete in the luxury F-Segment car market

In fact, at the Shanghai Motor Show in 2011, Volvo delivered the Concept Universe car which we all though was pointing the way to what could be a Volvo S90; Volvo’s luxury car for Chinese plutocrats. It sported a rather strange ‘East meets West’ design language with a very odd nose and lots of curves, and it wasn’t exactly showered in plaudits. But that didn’t stop Volvo coming back at Frankfurt in 2011 with an altogether more convincing concept – the Volvo Concept You – that sported a much clearer vision for a future luxury Volvo.