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Volvo 13-liter liquefied-natural-gas engine announced for North America

It comes as no surprise that, with rising fuel costs, companies are continuing their efforts to increase efficiency. Volvo Trucks, for its part, plans to launch a 13-liter liquefied-natural-gas engine for North America in 2014 and is set to develop a new form natural-gas fuel called DME, or dimethyl ether. Volvo looks to add the liquefied-natural-gas option to complement its compressed-natural-gas (CNG) offerings.

Video: A look inside CATLY's studio walls and Toyota FT-1 concept development

Motor Trend has taken a look inside the studio walls of CALTY to produce a documentary of the design development of a star of last week's Detroit auto show, the Toyota FT-1 concept. Toyota's Californian design studio has been responsible for some of the company's best recent work including the Lexus LF-LC concept. In this episode of Downshift, Motor Trend spoke to some of those behind the FT-1's design – Kevin Hunter, CALTY Research president, studio chief designer Alex Shen and William Chergosky, interior chief designer.

Subaru XV concept

Following the teaser shot we brought you on April 15, Subaru has now revealed the XV concept, a design study that blends ‘exceptional SUV practicality with a fashionable form', according to the company. Designers at Subaru's studios in Japan created the concept around the design keyword ‘Protren' a combination of ‘Professional tool' and ‘Trendy design'. It expresses the integration of "authentic functionality as a professional tool" and "urban and stylish design".