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Video: Peter Schreyer on premium proportion

Kia has released a short film featuring Peter Schreyer that provides an insight into the world of premium car design in which he explains the importance of proportion. In the presentation, Schreyer sketches the company's new K9 sedan, describing how a rear-wheel drive platform affects the car's design, with its generous wheelbase, short front overhang and the 'prestige distance' between the center of the front wheel and the A-pillar. Related stories: Interview: Peter Schreyer, Chief of Design, Kia

UK New car sales hit 394,806 in March 2013

The latest figures from the SMMT show that new car registrations in the UK in March 2013 hit 394,806, up 5.9 per cent over March 2012. The seemingly inexorable rise in new car registrations in the UK is continuing, with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) reporting sales in March 2013 up 5.9 per cent on March 2012, with a total of 394,086 cars registered. These figures mean that new car registrations have grown for thirteen consecutive month and are now at their highest level since the Government introduced the Scrappage scheme in 2010 to try and breathe new life in to the market and encourage buyers to opt for low emission cars.

Renault Formula E racer (2013) at Frankfurt motor show

Formula E, the new elite racing series for electric single-seaters, has got the FIA’s backing, confirmed the major cities that will host the races, and now we've finally seen the crucial racecar. This is the Spark-Renault SRT_01E, a joint project developed between Renaultsport and Spark Racing Technology (SRT) which has just been unveiled at the 2013 Frankfurt motor show. There’s also been input from F1 legends Williams and McLaren, plus Dallara (which builds all the cars for the IndyCar series in the US).