AUTO INDUSTRY

Designing Cars of Future: Mazda and the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena will unveil sketches and clay models of Art Center students’ hydrogen-powered cars of the future in a show at the center next week.

Mazda Research and Design of America and Mazda Motor of America Inc., the Japanese car maker’s U.S. design, import and distribution units, both in Irvine, sponsored the project to get the design students thinking about cars that use alternative fuels.

The Art Center is one of the nation’s major training grounds for automotive designers--its graduates work in just about every car design studio in the country. At Mazda R&D;, for example, design division Executive Vice President Tom Matano, chief designer Truman Pollard and assistant chief designer Mark Jordan all have Art Center diplomas.

The college is at 1700 Lido St. in Pasadena. For more information about the Senior Show next week, call the school at (818) 396-2200.