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Ford's NA Design Director aims to shorten product lifecycles

Peter Horbury, Ford Motor Company North America Design Director, has told Automotive News he intends to shorten product lifecycles at the ailing company from an average five years to three years starting this decade. "We feel there is no value in minor changes but a huge value in major changes," Horbury told the industry weekly. Ford needs to ensure that buyers continue visiting showrooms as the giant automaker struggles to retain market share.

BMW, Mercedes consider return to 4-bangers in U.S. market

Facing stricter fuel economy standards, BMW and Mercedes-Benz are considering bringing four-cylinder engines back to the United States. BMW stopped offering four-cylinders in 1999 when its 318ti hatchback flopped. Mercedes-Benz had four-cylinder engines on the 2005 C230 and SLK230 but dropped them in favor of six-cylinder models.

Mercedes CLA: Official

The new Mercedes CLA – the ‘baby’ CLS based on the new A Class – has finally been revealed ahead of going on sale in the UK in May 2013. The very stylish four-door coupe styling based on the new Mercedes A Class has survived almost intact from the Style Concept, offering buyers looking for a smaller Mercedes a real alternative to the CLS without sacrificing anything other than a size. Despite being revealed on the eve of the Detroit Auto Show, the new Mercedes CLA will actually make its public debut at the Berlin Fashion Week this week as Mercedes seek to mark the CLA’s design out as a ‘Style Rebel’.