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Kia four-door sports sedan concept

Kia isn't giving much away about its Frankfurt-bound concept car, indeed it hasn't even released its name yet, referring to it as the 'four-door sports sedan concept.' The press release talks of it as 'signalling a distinctive new design direction' for the Korean brand, yet the now-familiar 'tiger-nose' grille and Optima-esque A-pillar/cant rail/C-pillar highlight are very much in evidence. "No matter from which perspective you look at it - this concept car is roaring with energy and ready for take-off," says Peter Schreyer, Kia Motors Chief Design Officer."I believe the car is a strong statement from Kia: we are ready to fast forward to an all new chapter." We'll bring you full details (and hopefully a name) from IAA next month. Photo gallery: Kia four-door sports sedan concept  

Nissan X-Trail N-TEC+ launched

Nissan has launched a new X-Trail model – the X-Trail N-Tec+ – with ‘Sporty’ looks and extra gadgets. Last year we got the Nissan X-Trail Platinum Edition with all the options ticked and a price of almost £30k, and now we get the sporty version – the Nissan X-Trail N-Tec+ – with more gadgets and extra kit at £27,790. Nissan are trumpeting the X-Trail N-Tec+ as the ‘Sporty’ X-Trail (if that’s not an oxymoron) and pitching it between the Acenta and Tekna versions.

Designer insights: highlights of Auto Design Prague 2014

Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, might not seem the most obvious choice for an automotive design conference. But when one considers the country's history of innovation in the arts and architecture, its long-lived automotive marques like Tatra and Skoda, and Prague's central location in Europe, it makes perfect sense. Conference speakers included the program design director for Citroën DS, Ivo Groen; Volvo vice president of design Thomas Ingenlath; Jaguar advanced design director, Julian Thomson; Gert Hildebrand, head of design for Qoros; and Johann Lemercier, program manager at Ferrari design.