Umea Institute of Design degree show 2009

Masters students from Sweden's Umea Institute of Design recently exhibited their final-year projects at the university's annual degree show. Featuring the work of both graduating diploma students and those completing the first year of their MA in Transportation Design, this year's exhibition brought together a diverse range of themes, ranging from futuristic interpretations of existing brand DNA to new concepts in car production, usage and forms. These are the highlights.

918 Alert! Porsche's stinging spyder grows closer to becoming reality

The first fully road-going prototype of Porsche's upcoming 202-mph hybrid-powered 918 Spyder has been seen during shakedown runs at the company's R&D center in Germany. Porsche released its own lightly disguised photographs of the cars being tested. The mules are “camouflaged” in livery meant to summon the famous 917 racer.

Brief 4 – GMC: CDN–GM Interactive Design Competition

Once again, Car Design News and General Motors are holding an Interactive Design Competition.There are five design briefs to choose from, each set by GM's design teams, and you're invited to submit your entry on the competition website: http://www.cardesigncontest.com/ The fourth of our briefs comes from GMC, GM's truck-and-utility-only brand, and asks you to design of the interior or exterior of a GMC show car to be revealed at the 2030 North American International Auto Show. Your design should focus on a future interpretation of GMC's ‘industrial sculpture' design philosophy. You'll need to bear in mind who the customer for this truck or utility vehicle is, and consider what is the purpose and application of the vehicle.