I'm interested to hear peoples views of how they think car design has progressed in the past 12 months, what they think the significant innovations are, and what the next 12 months is likely to deliver. thanks.

i think 12 months is a very short time in this industry and it's impossible to summarize what was done and what has changed..

lets say a few years.
Side air vents and vents behind the front wheel

next fad extremely sleek led headlamps, and more unique DRG, especially in the rear

introduction of LED headlights to the mainstream cars

In 2007, I saw a maroon 5-door Elantra with missing front and rear bumpers on quite a few commutes. (Westbound on the Santa Monica freeway around La Brea during the brutal 7am crunch) Was this intentional? Will this be the dechromed 1949 James Dean Mercury of the naughty naughts? It looked surprisingly alluring, the extreme of flame surfacing. Flash freezing? Brain slicing?

Luxury interiors with practically no sight of plastic are available today.