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Japan's concept cars - the craziest of the noughties

By Alex Michaelides Motor Shows 19 August 2009 10:00 Here we are, celebrating the best cars that Japan has produced, but what about the ones it hasn’t? At many motor shows – and particularly ones in its back yard – the Japanese industry serves up some wild concept cars which boggle the brain and tickle the ribs. It’s hardly surprising that few of them hit the mainstream.

Partnership Premium 2030 - Part 1

Strate College in Paris, France, has been working on a Peugeot-sponsored project for the past few months. The project asks 30 students who have been divided into 10 groups to create the exterior design, an interior design, any related products (including accessories or new services, for example) and color and trim details for the premium Peugeot for the year 2030 Though there are no constraints on the technical package, the brief stipulates that the teams must create a scenario that illustrates global change, and design a vehicle that fits into this future environment. Designers from Peugeot have been very active in the process, guiding students in weekly critiques and assisting them with specific knowledge in key areas of expertise.

Honda readies its jet airplane -- for real this time

Honda would like to remind you that while journalists have spent the last few years fretting whether the Big H has "lost its way," the company has quietly launched, shelved, resurrected, and all but waited out its plan to dominate the business-jet skies, which we are to assume are less friendly than United's. The HA-420 HondaJet has been kicking around for more than 10 years now, but the very first production-ready plane just rolled off the assembly line in Greensboro, N.C., this week -- and, Honda promises, the $4.5 million business jet should be delivered in the second quarter of next year. Honda began taking orders for the jet in 2006, but the long recession squashed the market for private jets.