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Lorenzo Ramaciotti to head Chrysler and Lancia design

Lorenzo Ramaciotti, current head of design at Fiat Group, has been tasked with leading the design of future Chrysler and Lancia products in a bid to more than double the sales figures of the newly collaborated brands. The 63-year-old former Pininfarina designer – credited to some of the most beautiful Italian machinery of the modern era – has been asked by Sergio Marchionne, chief executive of Fiat and Chrysler Group LLC, to create a common styling language for the two brands that wouldn't look out of place in Detroit or Milan. Ramaciotti has made it clear that badge-engineering isn't going to be the future for the two brands and is hoping to inject a unique, but global flavor, into the two brands.

Aston Martin sales UP in 2013 – new platform being developed

Aston Martin sales and revenue up in 2013 Aston Martin has revealed its results for 2013 – its centenary year – which show the coolest car brand on the planet managed to increase sales by 11 per cent – to around 4,200 cars – and revenue to £519 million, an increase of 13 per cent over 2012. Aston Martin’s earnings before EBITDA (that’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) were up a strong 22 per cent to £84.8 million, demonstrating strong operating profitability, although actual earnings were marginal. But Aston Martin are bullish about the performance, and equally bullish about the future.

Is this a Toyota GT 86 four-door saloon?

Is this a Toyota GT 86 four-door saloon? There has been talk for some time that Toyota are going to stretch the GT 86 by 4″, add a couple of back doors and turn it in to a four-door coupe. And that’s exactly what the organisers of the Dubai International Motor Show – which starts tomorrow – are claiming on their Facebook page, together with a photo (above) which seems to show a four-door GT 86.