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News watch November 2012: today's auto industry news

Welcome to CAR Magazine's news aggregator as we round up the daily stories in the auto industry. Top tip: news summaries are added from the top hour-by-hour Friday 30 November 2012• Europe's trade ministers are looking at a free-trade pact with Japan, despite resistance from EU car manufacturers. Currently Japanese cars attract a 10% tariff upon import to Europe.

Mazda wins 2008 LA Design Challenge

The Mazda Kaan concept has won the fifth annual LA Design Challenge competition, part of the Design Los Angeles automobile designer's conference. The award was presented during the second press day of the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show, following a designers' luncheon and keynote speech by Daniel Simon, visionary futurist and author of Cosmic Motors. As we reported last month, nine local Southern California design studios entered the competition to envisage how motor sport vehicles might be in the year 2025, answering the theme ‘Motorsports 2025'.

Peugeot 2008 previewed as the Urban Crossover Concept: Beijing 2012

The Peugeot Urban Crossover previews the Peugeot 2008 Peugeot has revealed the Urban Crossover Concept at the Beijing Motor Show which  previews the Peugeot 2008 Compact SUV. We’ve already had the news that Peugeot won’t be building an estate or convertible version of the new 208, but they will be building an SUV and its almost certain to be badged the Peugeot 2008. And if we’re not very much mistaken, the Peugeot Urban Crossover Concept revealed today in Beijing is, minus a few concept fripperies and with a quick badge change, the new Peugeot 2008.