Students from Imperial College and the Royal College of Art, studying for a masters degree in industrial design and engineering are collaborating with Ford to come up with new features for cars.

As part of the project, Ford donated two cars to the Colleges for students to analyse and use for their new designs. Over a four week period, designers from the company's advanced product group have been visiting students to get progress reports on their work.

Alicia Agius from Ford says: "The students are providing us with a fresh perspective on innovation. We have been really impressed with their creativity and their ability to come up with innovative ideas. They've been a real creative force."

The students are working in a laboratory in the Mechanical Engineering Building that faces Exhibition Road which has large windows at ground level that look out onto the street. As a result, passers by have been able to see students working on the car.

The final design concepts will be presented to representatives of the company this week.