Mazda Hazumi concept (2014) first official pictures

By Ben Pulman First Official Pictures 04 March 2014 06:00 This is the new Mazda 2 supermini, unveiled this morning at the 2014 Geneva motor show. Okay, okay, technically it’s the Mazda Hazumi concept, but the Japanese company itself openly admits this dinky little hatchback previews ‘ideas for its next-generation B-car’. Incidentally, Hazumi (no, not the cheese, but Hazumi) is apparently a Japanese word meaning ‘bound’ or ‘spring up’ so Mazda’s picked the name ‘to convey an image of a small but vigorous animal, bursting with energy.’ That’s right, and Mazda is using it to highlight its ‘Kodo’ design language, its SkyActiv fuel-saving technologies, and its MZD Connect infotainment system.

Munich University of Applied Sciences degree show 2009

The University of Applied Sciences in Munich, Germany, held their annual degree show earlier this summer, hosting an array of projects from various design disciplines, including industrial, photo and communication design as well as transportation design projects. The nine graduating students from the Transportation Design department, headed by Professor Dr. Othmar Wickenheiser, presented projects of sponsored by Audi, BMW, Ford, Lamborghini, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen, while continuing students showed proposals for concepts sponsored by Mercedes-Benz trucks (entitled 'Dirty Business'), Lamborghini (themed 'Raw Material') and Semcon.

Cars, Culture and the City

When you think of American cities associated with the car it is Los Angeles of course that leaps first to mind, thanks mostly to Hollywood, and Detroit second. But New York turns out to have been vital in the history of car design, as I found researching an exhibition Cars, Culture and the City at the Museum of the City of New York as guest curator over the last few months, working with the museums curator architecture and design, Donald Albrecht. The show has just opened, on March 25.