1995-1998 Ford Explorer Middle Console Coin Tray V-86733 Tl6947 on 2040-parts.com

Who's Where: Martin Smith to retire, succeeded by Joel Piaskowski as Ford Europe head of design

Martin Smith, head of Ford of Europe design for the last 10 years, will retire at the end of this year, before which he will work on a project to study the future direction of the company's global design direction. He will be replaced by current head of strategic concepts group, Joel Piaskowski on 1 July. Smith (64) first joined Ford back in 2004, leaving General Motors as director of design for Opel/Vauxhall.

NHTSA may investigate Grand Cherokees over fuel-tank fire hazard

The Jeep Grand Cherokee from the 1993 to 2004 model years may be investigated by federal safety regulators after a complaint that its fuel tank is an exposed fire hazard that may have contributed to hundreds of deaths. Last month the nonprofit Center for Auto Safety complained that the SUV's fuel tank extends below the rear bumper and is inadequately protected from crashes and rollovers. The vehicle's fuel filler neck also tears off in crashes, said the center's petition for an investigation and recall.

CAR interviews Volvo design vice president Peter Horbury (2010)

By Tim Pollard Motor Industry 04 February 2010 07:00 CAR recently spent some time one-to-one with Peter Horbury, Volvo's new vice president of design. Horbury, who pioneered Volvo's modern look in his previous stint as design boss from 1991 to 2002 spent five and a half years in charge of Ford's North American design studio. But in May 2009, Volvo CEO Stephen Odell asked Horbury to return to the top job in Gothenburg.