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Rolls-Royce Bespoke creates Year of the Dragon Collection

Rolls-Royce has announced a commemorative offering in preparation for the forthcoming Year of the Dragon celebration, which starts on January 23, 2012. Designed by Rolls-Royce's Bespoke team, the Year of the Dragon Collection has been inspired by the legendary creature that is revered in China, and created to celebrate the ultimate symbol of power, prosperity and good fortune. The collection features unique detailing on both the exterior and interior of the Phantom or Phantom Extended Wheelbase models and includes a gold hand-painted dragon coachline inspired by Beijing's Forbidden City; dragon headrest embroidery available in Tan, Golden Sand, Black and White; a dragon inlay, which will be hand-laid to the passenger panel and include the Phantom name outlined in gold; two hand-stitched cushions for the rear passengers, specified with embroidered double R-R logos and piping; and illuminated treadplates with ‘Year of the Dragon 2012' highlighted in LED lighting.

U.S. unveils blueprint to tackle driver distraction

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Thursday the agency isn't looking at new regulations to address distracted driving, but rather is calling on automakers to step up voluntary efforts to combat risks with new technologies and education. LaHood, who's made distracted driving a top automotive safety priority of the Obama administration, said he's met with the CEOs of numerous automakers and feels confident "they're committed to safety." He even praised Subaru of America for a TV ad that highlighted the dangers of driver distraction. The commercial featured a father talking to his teenage daughter about the risks of using a cell phone while on the road.

Volkswagen CrossBlue SUV Concept: 2013 Detroit Auto Show

Volkswagen has revealed a new SUV concept – the VW Crossblue – at the Detroit Auto show, previewing a new 7-seat SUV for North America. But this particular VW SUV isn’t heading to a VW showroom near you, instead it’s designed to accommodate seven full-size Americans (well, six in the concept and seven in the production version) in an SUV that will be bigger than the Touareg, but less costly. Sitting on the (obviously very flexible, considering the size of the CrossBlue) MQB platform that underpins the Golf, the CrossBlue looks like it’s probably a stretched version of the next generation Tiguan, complete with VWs new SUV design language featuring a less flowing style with more angular lines and a blunt, statement nose.