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CAR interviews Patrick le Quément on Renault design (2009)

By Richard Yarrow Motor Industry 29 April 2009 16:05 Patrick le Quément, 64, has steered Renault through one of its most interesting – some would say controversial – design phases in its history. Born in Marseilles but educated from the age of 12 in the UK, he speaks almost accentless English and agrees to talk to CAR on the eve of his retirement. Le Quément is one of those designers who’s achieved stellar recognition over the past two decades – matching the reputation of Chris Bangle and J Mays as a member of the design A-list, that exclusive club who’ve helped shape the modern motor car as we know it today.

Prime Minister praises JLR during visit to new engine plant

Prime Minister David Cameron today praised Jaguar Land Rover as he made a surprise visit to the firm’s brand new £500 million engine production facility in Wolverhampton. The PM flew in to join a special contingent of MPs, local government officials and the press on an early preview tour of the in-construction new plant, just six weeks after the JLR team themselves moved in. Apparently, an insider told MSN Cars, the PM had personally requested to visit the plant – and he wasn’t originally invited!

Volkswagen wants Karmann

VW wants to buy Karmann Just like all the other specialist coachbuilders out there – Zagato, Pininfarina, etc – life has not been a bed of roses for a long time for Karmann. Once a great way for wealthy owners to ‘Customise’ their cars, the specialist coachbuilders have relied more and more on relationships with big car makers to survive. None more so than Karmann, whose hopes for survival rested on VW divvying up an order for electric cars.