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Royal College of Art and SABIC collaborate on new ‘VISIcON’ program and design competition

The Royal of Art and chemicals manufacturer SABIC has announced the launch of a three-month research program and competition called 'VISIcON'. Over 30 post-graduate students from the college's Vehicle Design program are studying and analyzing how SABIC's thermoplastic lighting materials and LEXAN polycarbonate (PC) glazing technologies can be used practically and creatively to improve the lighting and illumination of future vehicles. VISIcON asks students from the RCA's automotive students split into three groups: the Automark group's emphasis on developing and enhancing brand identity through lighting; Urban Flow's focus directed towards discovering innovative exterior lighting; and Inside Out studio is working on improving and extending the use of light in the vehicle interior through lighting components and PC glazing.

New Lexus LS600 Hybrid launches at Frankfurt

The revised 2010 Lexus LS600h Hybrid The 2010 version of the LS600h gets a set of styling tweaks, which include modifications to the front end with LED indicators, new bumper and grill, and new fog lights. Other changes include the door mirrors and chrome detailing. This hybrid only LS600 (Lexus has said they intend only making hybrids in future ) has had improvements made to the Hybrid System including an ‘Eco’ mode which effectively turns down throttle response to make the LS600h more economical.

One Lap of the Web: Green machines, light-up stars and an upside down Porsche

We spend a lot of time on the Internet -- pretty much whenever we're not driving, writing about or working on cars. Since there's more out there than we'd ever be able to cover, here's our daily digest of car stuff on the Web you may not otherwise have heard about. To participate in the 24 Hours of LeMons you not only need a sub-$500 car, but you also have to find a gimmick.