Coming attractions.

This year is about half over, which means the 2006 and early 2007 models will begin breaking cover soon. What will the future hold? Here's a look at some of the vehicles that have yet to make an auto show appearance, but could make your life more ... interesting.

**********

DAIMLERCHRYSLER

SEBRING/STRATUS: Look for replacements to be taller, wider with AWD variants. Papers filed with the State of Michigan indicate DCX's Sterling Heights, MI, plant is being overhauled to handle vehicles 5.0-in. taller and 3.0-in. wider than the current cars. This suggests a vehicle reminiscent of the Avenger concept vehicle shown in Detroit in 2003. Expect a crossover rumored to combine the best features of minivans and SUVs in one vehicle.

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FORD

CROSSOVER SUV: To be built on the Ford Fusion/Mercury Milan CD3 platform, this SUV will share its architecture with the next Lincoln Aviator, and give Ford a direct competitor for Nissan's stylish Murano. A performance version is under consideration, and would use the driveline and powertrain from the Mazdaspeed version of the Mazda6.

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LINCOLN TOWN CAR/LS: The Ford 500/Mercury Montego platform will do double duty at Lincoln. A mid-size sedan based on the standard 500/Montego platform will replace the rear-drive LS, and be powered by Ford's new 3.5-liter "Cyclone" V6. Stretch the wheelbase, increase the width slightly, and there's the replacement for the aging Town Car. It will use a version of Volvo's transverse VB and all-wheel-drive. To amortize costs, Ford and Mercury may get their own versions to replace the Crown Victoria and Grand Marquis.

GM

CADILLAC: The front-drive BLS is Europe-only for now, but the next generation is being designed with North America in mind. Look for it in 2008. It will join a Cadillac version of the Saturn Vue/Chevy Equinox small SUV due to arrive in 2007. That vehicle will look like a shrunken SRX and have only V6 engines under the hood. Interestingly, a V Series version may arrive 12 to 18 months later.

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MINI

COOPER/COOPER S: Subtle exterior changes make the MINI easier and cheaper to assemble. The clamshell hood, integral headlamps, and slanted grille will be replaced by a more conventional hood design, headlamps that are part of the fenders, and a more upright and larger grille. Underneath the new face will sit a brace of new engines developed by BMW and Peugeot (http://www.autofieldguide.com/articles/wip/0205wip06.html). Word is the John Cooper Works (JCW) edition will start at 200 hp, with a rumored 230-hp edition packing a Getrag-developed 4wd system in the pipeline. This driveline also may be used in a potential MINI SUV. The wheelbase will increase by under 2.0-in, as will the cargo area.

ROADSTER: Take one MINI convertible, add a hard tonneau over the rear seats, and fit a near-fastback soft top. Voila! Instant sports car.

TRAVELER: The first in a long line of MINI line additions will be the four-door Traveler station wagon. Like the standard cars, it will come in standard and "S" versions, but add a longer cargo area to the stretched wheelbase.

NISSAN

SENTRA: The name is dead as Nissan will use three vehicles to fill this slot. One is based on the Tiida hatchback platform and will be powered by the 2.0-liter MR200E mated to either a manual transmission or the Xtronic CVT. This platform also supports a compact crossover codenamed "P32L" that will be built at Nissan's Sunderland, England, plant and could be adapted for the North American market. The other is the next-generation Nissan Cube, which also will use the Tiida platform.

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INFINITI G36: Take the sleeker curves of the new M Sedans, add a few avant-garde flourishes, increase size slightly, add more power, and you get the replacements for the G35 Sedan and Coupe. The G36 will officially launch the second generation of Nissan's FM platform, and promises to be stiffer without being significantly heavier. The Skyline model won't come to North America, but buyers may be able to order the G36 Coupe with the 4.5-liter VB and all-wheel-drive.

ALTIMA/MAXIMA: These platform mates are due for a major overhaul around 2007, and will use a modified version of the current platform. Once again, the Altima will offer both four- and six-cylinder engines, while the Maxima will have a larger version of the VQV6. Nissan designers and product planners have worked to increase the distance between the two cars, aiming the Maxima at an upscale, performance-minded buyer with more distinct sheetmetal and a sport/luxury interior. Unfortunately, a twin-turbo 4wd version has been discussed but is unlikely to reach production.

VW

BEDOUIN: VW will finally build the small SUV it needs. Based on a combination of new Golf and Passat parts, the small 4X4 has the same wheelbase as the smaller Golf, but the track width of the larger, but still Golf-based, Passat. Which means greater on- and off-road stability. Powerplants will include the 1.8-liter turbocharged inline four and 3.2-liter V6, which means the rumors that the uplevel model is aimed at BMW's X3 aren't far off the mark. Where Audi's version of the Bedouin will be aimed is anybody's guess.

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COUPE: You didn't think VW would go the expense of creating a hybrid platform for the Bedouin and not use it elsewhere, did you? A long-wheelbase version of the platform will underpin an upscale coupe VW will launch later this decade. Unclear at the moment is whether this is a traditional two-door coupe, or a four-door coupe like Mercedes' CLS. The model will sit above the Passat and below the Phaeton in VW's lineup. It will be available in two- and four-wheel-drive versions, and may reintroduce the V8 last seen in the Passat to VW's lineup. This same platform, in a shorter wheelbase version, reportedly will be used for the TT replacement at Audi.

ROADSTER: Reportedly Wolfgang Bernhard is said to be taking a keen interest in this one: a mid-engined two-seater that draws from the Polo and Golf parts bin. Engines ranging from the 2.0-liter four to 3.2-liter V6 will be offered if the cost equation can be figured out. Audi will grab a version of this platform for its own affordable sports car, though the Audi model will arrive initially as a coupe.

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COST-EFFECTIVE COMPOSITE CARS?

Lotus Engineering (Hethel, England; www.grouplotus.com) and Jacob Composite GmbH (Wilhelmsdorf, Germany; www.jacobkunststofftechnik.de) have begun a program called ECOLITE (Efficient Composites--Lightweight and Thermoformed) that aims to cost-effectively produce passenger cars with chassis and body panels made primarily of composite materials at volumes in the 30,000 to 50,000 unit/year range. The companies are betting that higher gas prices, environmental regulation and greater demand for niche vehicles will drive automaker interest in composite structures. The program is focusing on a thermoforming process using glass fiber reinforced polyamide, PBT (polybutylene terephthalate) and polystyrene resins in order to reduce production cycle times. Unique thermoforming simulation software will test the production characteristics of various formulations. The first phase of the program runs through October, concentrating on creating a crashworthy composite front end module modeled after an existing production design.

42

The One Thing You Need To Know ... About Great Managing, Great Leading, and Sustained Individual Success

By Marcus Buckingham Free Press, $29.95

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Perhaps I am too literal-minded, but when I pick up a book titled The One Thing You Need To Know, I assume that there will be a singular recommendation. Yet, when you reach that chapter of the book titled "Conclusion" (p. 281), Marcus Buckingham (co-author of First, Break All the Rules and Now, Discover Your Strengths) references the book by the late Douglas Adams The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (now a somewhat major motion picture), wherein the answer to Everything is "42." (No one is sure what the question is.) I feel rather, ah, 42 about this book. For example, right off the bat there are two things, not one. Managing and leading. Then there are three criteria used to determine the One Thing. Buckingham also lists five fears, five needs, and one focus. Three levers. It all begins to seem like Fermat's enigma.

To get to the point of the "One Thing," there are actually two. "The One Thing all great managers know about great managing is this: Discover What Is Unique About Each Person and Capitalize on It." And, "So, while great managers discover what is unique about each person and capitalize on it, great leaders do the inverse. The One Thing every great leader knows he must do is: Discover What Is Universal and Capitalize on It."

None of this is very fresh, although Buckingham provides examples galore. Presumably, a book that was truly about One Thing would be significantly less numeric. And shorter.--GSV

MICROSOFT'S IN-CAR AUDIO APPROACH

Microsoft (www.microsoft.com; Redmond, WA) is working with automotive audio head unit suppliers to incorporate its new PlaysForSure standard. PlaysForSure was introduced by Microsoft as a way to ensure that Windows-based devices from disparate makers talk seamlessly to each other. With that in place any certified portable audio player can be connected via a cable and operated by using the head unit's controls. Unlike vehicle systems that have been deployed for iPods, this solution would cover a lot of different players. Peter Wengert, group manager, sales & marketing for Microsoft's Automotive Business Unit, says the company is working with Alpine and Pioneer to implement the standard. But right now the only company openly displaying a connection solution is SSI America (www.ssiamerica.com; Lynbrook, NY).--KEW

CELEBRATING WITH AN STS 

As this is the centennial year for SAE, and as the people at General Motors decided that they wanted to do something a bit out of the ordinary to help celebrate that event. So, beyond throwing in support of various influential sorts to the SAE Congress, the Powers That Are at the automaker brought together some of its top engineers under Al Oppenhesier, director of Concept Vehicles (part of the Performance Div. headed up by Mark Reuss), gave them an '05 STS, and charged them with creating what's called a "technology integration vehicle" with the Cadillac as its platform. Although this is a car created to be blazingly quick--there is an LS2 engine under the 8-kg carbon fiber hood (sourced from Prefix (www.prefix.com), which also provided the carbon fiber low-mass wheelhouses, which are 50% lighter than their metal variants), a 505-hp engine with an Eaton M122 intercooled supercharger (www.eaton.com)--that's not the point of the exercise. (There will be an STS-V for '06 with a supercharged Northstar under the hood--albeit one that produces 440 hp.) Rather, the point was, Oppenheiser explained, to deploy a range of technologies to show the sorts of things that can be used in advanced vehicles. There are 50 different technology differentiators used on the "STS SAE 100," as it's been designated, that were based on work done by GM engineers in concert with 37 supplier companies. The subsystems and the number of technologies deployed in them are:

** Safety/crashworthiness: 10

** Chassis: 10

** Exterior: 8

** Structure/lighting/glass: 3

** Powertrain: 6

** Electrical: 8

** Interior: 5

** HVAC: 1

It should be noted that not all of these technologies are "new." Nor are these technologies that aren't, in some cases, already being used on some vehicle applications. For example, the 2004 Commemorative Edition Z06 Corvette has a carbon fiber hood (and the forthcoming '06 Z06 has carbon fiber fenders). Rather, "integration" of a "drivable" vehicle is the objective (we had the opportunity to drive the SAE STS in the Pontiac Silverdome, former home of the Detroit Lions and current venue for things like monster truck events, so we can testify that it moves, but whether it can take advantage of the L52 remains to be determined).

Here's a thumbnail of the technologies (not already mentioned) that are being used in the vehicle*:

** Electronic throttle control. This GM-developed unit integrates the throttle actuator control (TAC) module hardware and software into the engine control module, thereby eliminating a standalone TAC.

** High-output generator. From Denso (www.globaldenso.com). Provides 20% greater output at hot idle.

** Six-speed automatic transmission. The GM HydraMatic new 6L90E can handle high-horsepower engines (a variant is going in the STS-V).

** Shift control. Think "sport shift."

** Oil condition sensor. This GM probe can check the life and amount of oil.

** Electronic limited slip differential (eLSD). From GKN (www.gkn.com), this eLSD obtains vehicle information via a LAN and permits the modulation of the condition from fully open to locked in a seamless manner, thereby improving performance under all conditions from moving through a parking lot to racing.

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** Multi-link front suspension. From McLaren (www.mclarenperformance.com), the suspension is designed to be suitable for rear- and all-wheel-drive performance-oriented vehicles. It moves the steering rack to a front mount location (SLA suspension setups have it located in a rear position) which provides the necessary understeer while reducing steering gain increases when speeds go up. The multi-link suspension also has two lower links instead of a lower control arm; these links facilitate tuning of the ride and handling bushings.

** Variable gear ratio steering. This system from Toyoda (www.toydatrw.com) puts a gear differential between the steering wheel and the steering gear, thereby making the steering condition-sensitive. The steering system for the vehicle also deploys Active Front Steer, which deploys an adaptive steering ratio and counter steering for yaw control, especially helpful in reducing braking distances, driving on split-mu surfaces, and in potential rollover situations.

** Brakes. Ceramic (silicon carbide) rotors front and rear (15-in. diameter and 14-in. diameter, respectively) and with six aluminum calipers in the front and four in the rear. From Brembo (www.brembo.com).

** Adjustable pedals. GM internal.

** Magnetic ride control. The Delphi (www.delphi.com) magneto-rheological fluid-based system that is deployed on vehicles including the Corvette.

** Remote start and keyless access. From Siemens VDO (www.siemensvdo.com).

** Adaptive cruise control. A radar-based system from Continental Temic (www.conti-online.com) that can adjust the throttle and braking to adjust to traffic conditions. Audible and visual alerts are given to the driver when the system's capabilities are exceeded.

** Active exhaust valve system. Internal GM development of a vacuum actuated exhaust valve that opens when the engine exceeds 3,500 rpm and the throttle position sensor indicates >85% actuation. This decreases backpressure while generating maximum horsepower. It is closed during partial throttle to reduce noise.

** Carbon-fiber wheels with magnesium spokes. The two-piece wheels from Dymag (www.dymag.com) feature a carbon fiber rim and a magnesium center; titanium bolts are used for the fasteners. A forged aluminum wheel for the C5 Corvette weighs 20 lb. One of these wheels weighs just 14. Pirelli provides the tires.

** Reconfigurable color head-up display. The Intier-sourced system (www.intier.com) used in the production STS.

** 5.1 DVD Surround Sound. The Bose (www.bose.com) system from the production STS.

** OnStar 6.1.

** LCD instrument cluster. Instead of conventional gauges, there is a 15 X 6-in. LCD screen that allows the driver to have the look and feel (analog/digital, colors, etc.) desired. Sourced from Promate (www.promate.com).

** 3D navigation system. From Bosch (www.bosch.com). It uses satellite photos in place of ordinary screen images, so the "real" environment is seen on the nav screen.

** Rear seat entertainment system. Two Microsoft (www.microsoft.com) Xboxes with DVD packages and 6.5-in. LCD screens (in the headrests) are the basis of the entertainment.

** Performance data recorder. For those who want to track and record their vehicle's performance on a PC or a PDA. This device from GM Performance Div. works with the integration vehicle--or any other GM vehicle.

** Beverage heating and cooling. Thermoelectric system from Tellurex fitting in the front console and rear fold-down armrest maintains beverages temperature (cool: ~40[degrees]F; hot: ~120[degrees]F).

** High output electroluminescent wire light. How do you know if your cup holders are heating or cooling your beverage? These lights from Robert Miller Electronics, based on excited phosphor crystals, shine red or blue.

** Heated washer fluid. The Microheat (www.microheat.com) system that heats the fluid to better remove things from ice to bugs on the windshield.

** Infinite door-check. The DORSTOP system from Stabilus (www.stabilus.com) features a hydraulic check system between the body structure and the inside of the door such that the door will hold open at whatever position the door is opened to.

** Rain sensing wipers. Sourced from TRW (www.trw.com).

** Power decklid system and obstacle detection system. Hoerbiger (www.hoerbiger.com) provides the high-pressure hydraulic system that permits the opening and closing of the decklid by fob, button or electronic latch; the obstacle detection touch sensor from Metzeler will signal the control module if an obstacle is detected during closure so that the decklid motion is reversed.

** Capless refuel system. That's right: no gas cap. This system from ITW (www.itw.com) is based on an electronically activated ball that upon actuation spins to open the fuel pipe. Remove the fuel nozzle and it automatically rotates back in place.

** Ultrasonic front and rear parking assist. The system from Bosch detects objects that are up to 4 ft in front or 8 ft behind the vehicle. Visual (lights) and audio (chimes) signals advise the driver of distance to the detected objects.

** Variable-temperature seats. There's thermoelectric heating and cooling (based on a Peltier circuit array) in the front seating. System is from Amerigon (www.amerigon.com).

** Heated steering wheel. A resistive electrical device heats the leather wrapped wheel. From Delphi.

** Second row supplemental storage. Stewart Reed Design (www.stewartreeddesign.com) devised additional cargo areas for items ranging in size from a computer bag to a PDA.

** Platinum interior. Drexelmaier is the source of such things as the leather and olive ash burl wood accents on the instrument panel to the suede fabric seat inserts.

** LED front lighting. Blue emitting diodes passed through a phosphorescent film results in white light on this Visteon (www.visteon.com) system. Includes high and low beams, as well as daytime running lamps.

** Theft deterrent glass. The laminated side glass (polyvinyl butyral between two layers of glass) is provided by Saint Gobain Sekurit USA (www.saintgobain-sekurit.com).

** Supplemental rapid passenger compartment heating. The Liquid Heat Generator from Ventech (www.ventechlhg.com) is mounted on the engine block as a belt-driven accessory. The mechanical energy it draws is converted into heat in the coolant at about 98% efficiency.

** Side blind zone alert. Valeo (www.valeo.com) system is based on radar sensors mounted in the corners of the rear bumper. If there is a vehicle in the driver's blind spot, an amber light in the left side view mirror is illuminated.

** Crash alert seat; massage passenger seat. There are haptic elements in the driver's seat that cause the seat to vibrate as a result of input from the lane departure system (see next item), on either the left or right side (depending on the direction of the deviation). The passenger's seat makes use of the vibrations--for a massage. Supplied by InSeat (www.inseat.com).

** Lane departure warning system. A camera is mounted near the inside rear view mirror. It looks ahead. When the vehicle goes at least 35 mph, a real-time system processes the captured video images and determines such things as road markers. If, for example, the driver changes lanes without using the turn signal, a visual cue is displayed and a haptic device in the driver's seat is activated. From Mobileye (www.mobileye.com).

** Rear vision camera system. Panasonic (www.panasonic.com) system is mounted on the centerline of the license pocket area. When the car is put in reverse, its power is activated. Provides a 131[degrees] horizontal and 96[degrees] vertical image on the nav screen.

** Roll-over airbag. Internal GM development. Located on the roof side rail metal beneath the trim. Can be activated for either rollovers or side impacts.

** Seat-mounted thorax/pelvis airbags. For both the front and rear. GM development.

** Dual-depth front passenger airbag. Depth is determined by factors including seat position, seat belt status, and crash severity. From Delphi.

** Rear seatbelt engagement notification. If a belted rear passenger unfastens the seat belt when the car is in motion, the Takata (www.takata.com) system signals the driver through a message on the IP.

** Inside rear view mirror with embedded organic LED (OLED) screen. Although the OLED screen in the rear view mirror is just 1 in. in size, the fidelity of the image of either the rear seat or from the backup camera is remarkable. Supplied by Daewoo Electronics (www.daewoo.com).

All in all, quite an impressive way to mark 100 years of SAE.--GSV

RETURN OF THE SPORTAGE

Kia stopped selling its Sportage SUV in the U.S. about three years ago because the body-on-frame design couldn't economically be updated to meet tightening safety and competitive standards. The 2005 Sportage, on the other hand, uses a modern unibody it shares with Kia's Spectra, and bears little resemblance to the original 1994 "cute ute."

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Obsessed with NVH and safety, Kia engineers developed a stiff steel bodyshell with four structural rings that encircle the vehicle at the A, B, C and D pillars. Key attachment areas (e.g. the floorpan joins at the rear wheel arches and the rear apron attaches to the D pillar) are reinforced to further boost rigidity and eliminate resonant sounds. The front subframe bridges the left and right front chassis stampings, is part of the frontal impact structure, and works as an NVH filter to keep road noise from entering the passenger cabin. Further noise reductions come from stamping curved shapes into the floorpan to absorb vibration, lining the rear wheel arches with sandwich panels, and using a reinforced front bulkhead covered with six layers of sound-deadening material.

Making good on its promise to be a leader in affordable safety, Kia deploys an impressive array of safety features to the Sportage. These include front and rear side curtain airbags, dual front seat-mounted airbags, four-channel ABS, electronic brake distribution, traction control and electronic stability control. Two engines are available, a 140-hp 2.0-liter DOHC four-cylinder with variable valve timing, and an optional 173-hp 2.7-liter V6 that Kia expects 85% of Sportage buyers to choose. The Sportage's base price is $15,900.--KEW

THINK DIFFERENT

MarketBusters: 40 Strategic Moves That Drive Exceptional Business Growth

Rita Gunther McGrath and Ian C. MacMillan $26.95; Harvard Business School Press

"There will always be things about your offering that some customer segments dislike. Further, a lot of what you take time and effort to deliver is either not visible to the customer or not a factor that differentiates your product or service from the competition. Finally, the whole process of creating value for customers is dynamic: Yesterday's major differentiators become tomorrow's taken-for-granted attributes. Not fair. Not nice." And it sounds like the authors are describing the auto industry, although they aren't. At least not specifically. Still, their recommendations can help companies determine where they'll get the biggest benefit from their resources--as in creating competitive advantages (an advantage is not enough).--GSV

MODULAR BASE OF OPERATIONS 

Moving people, parcels and parts around military bases via tactical vehicles is an inefficient use of resources. To remedy this problem, the U.S. Army's National Automotive Center commissioned a simple light-duty modular vehicle to handle these chores, while reducing fuel use and pollution. The result is the Hyrider, a light duty vehicle built by California Motors and Quantum Technologies atop a modular spaceframe chassis with a central backbone section. Prototypes use fiberglass body panels, but--depending on the application and volume--the exterior panels can be stamped from steel or aluminum, or made from molded plastic. Common to all Hyriders are the twin steel tubes draped over the hood and tailgate that act as their hinge. This gives easy access, eases removal of the panels for servicing or hauling long cargo, and makes it easy to break the vehicle down for shipping.

Each corner has long-travel independent suspension with upper and lower A-arms and coil-over shocks, making it possible to take the Hyrider over rough terrain. Military units are designed for non-tactical applications and top speeds above 35 mph, while civilian-use variants--for use in gated communities, at resorts, or as city vehicles--are limited to no more than 25 mph. The military units can be tailored for on-base duties such as pickup and delivery of personnel, fire fighting, mail, and maintenance that are currently performed by tactical vehicles like Humvees.

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"This frees those vehicles up for their intended duties," says California Motors president Mike Kasaba, "and should reduce both fuel use and pollution levels at military bases." An off-the-shelf 18-hp diesel engine and a pair of GE forklift drive motors make up the all-wheel-drive powertrain. A front-drive version is planned. The military also is interested in a version powered by a removable 5kW fuel cell designed for future military auxiliary power units.--CAS

NISSAN UPS ITS DESIGN CAPABILITY

Although frugality certainly plays a large role in Nissan's comeback from the brink of oblivion during the past few years, one thing that is sometimes considered to be the antithesis of prudence has played an equally important part: Design. Like them or hate them, the designs that have been coming out of Nissan's global design studios have driven a stake in the ground that's unambiguously bold. Carlos Ghosn, the man who transformed Nissan, and who will take over Renault this month (May '05), writes in his memoir Shift: Inside Nissan's Historic Revival (Currency/Doubleday; $25.95): "We realized from the moment we arrived that our design department needed some new blood. Nissan had two problems in this area. First of all, design was subordinated to the director of engineering. This was an absurd situation, an umbilical cord that needed to be cut.... Second, we had to find a design head who could symbolize Nissan's revival, someone who had worked outside the company, someone with sufficient self-confidence and an international vision."

So they cut the cord. And Shiro Nakamura was hired away from Isuzu.

Underlining Nissan's commitment to design is the $14-million investment in a new design studio at the company's Farmington Hills, Michigan, tech center. At its public opening, Nakamura stated, "Design is a critical element in our global growth," and he went on to note that during the last five years, while the company was reviving itself, the designers in the various Nissan studios created 20 concept cars and 27 production cars--certainly an amazing number in the context of the condition of the company, and impressive under any standards.

Bruce R. Campbell, vice president, Design, Nissan Design America (NDA), actually grew up in Dearborn, Michigan, but headed off to San Diego, where NDA is headquartered, some 30 years ago. He is responsible for leading development projects assigned to NDA both in San Diego and Farmington Hills. Speaking of the expanded studio in Farmington Hills, Campbell commented, "It makes sense to be here," pointing out that this puts the 30 designers (a number that could grow to 45, but Campbell says that they're in no hurry to add them--and that they're particularly picky when it comes to selecting designers) in close proximity to the engineers in the attached tech center, the supplier companies that populate the Detroit metro area, and closer to the Nissan plants in Tennessee and Mississippi. He went on to say that the new studio now has the wherewithal to completely handle development projects.

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The new studio's exterior was designed by Albert Kahn Associates (Detroit), a legendary firm that played a role in many of the important buildings that were created for the auto industry. The interior was created by Luce et Studio (San Diego), which created an open-space format to facilitate communications and interaction among the designers. The interior design melds the warmth of wood (bleached oak and redwood panels, tributes, said Amy Larimer of Luce et Studio, who worked on the interior, to Michigan and California, respectively), the pragmatic seriousness of concrete, and the industrial aspects of aluminum (some of which was recycled from car bodies) and rubber (ditto tires).

One of the most impressive aspects of the 50,912-[ft.sup.2] studio is actually outside of it: a 15,000-[ft.sup.2] courtyard designated "The Egg" because of the ovoid perforated stainless steel wall that surrounds it (there are two layers of stainless so that while light is transmitted through it, curious onlookers cannot see through it). This, too, was designed by Luce et Studio. It in and of itself resembles sculpture, which undoubtedly will make the designers step up their game.

Campbell said that he and his colleagues are in Detroit and San Diego to "feel the pulse of the American market." Will there be distinctive Motor City and SoCal designs coming out of the respective studios? Campbell says that wouldn't be acceptable. "My job is to ensure that the Nissan process and philosophy are shared by both locations." One way he's making that happen is by rotating designers through each of the studios.

He also added that they won't be "creating clones like other manufacturers."--GSV

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BOUNCE

Balls!: 6 Rules For Winning Today's Business Game

By John Wiley & Soms $19.95, 178 pp.

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The title of this book gets your attention. The subtitle hints at what Ms. Venneri, presently the chief marketing and communications officer at a telecom-based firm, and formerly with the Seattle Mariners, is really up to. She grabs your attention, then pays it off in a somewhat less raucous way, with the noun of the title ostensibly serving as an acronym that describes what it takes to get it done in today's competitive environment:

** B: Brave enough to take risks

** A: Authentic enough to follow tried-and-true business practices

** L: Loud enough to attract serious attention

** L: Loving enough to care for your employees and customers

** S: Spunky enough to do things differently

** I: Inspired and excited enough to go and make things happen

It is also a term that relates to a promotion that she used at a trade show, where she distributed 10,000 balls to achieve some visibility. It worked. While she does use examples from a few companies, the man who founded the firm she works for, Who's Calling, gets a preponderance of coverage. Which may be a good thing for the company. But it leaves many other avenues unexplored.

Her fundamental message is encompassed in one line: "We've found that being aggressive, being loud, being different, and being a little wild make our marketing dollars go much father than if we played the game like traditional buttoned-down business executives." But her company is metrics-driven, so it isn't all about just bouncing higher and brighter than the suits, even though that may be more fun--if you have the guts to do it.--GSV

*Thanks to Andrew Krenz, design/engineering lead, STS SAE 100.

By Christopher A. Sawyer, Executive Editor