Chief engineer of Ford Focus quits to lead German yacht builder

Jens Ludmann, chief program engineer for Ford Motor Co.'s new Focus, is quitting the automaker to head a German-based maker of luxury yachts. Ludmann led a team at Ford's European base in Merkenich, near Cologne, Germany, that developed the Focus, the first car from CEO Alan Mulally's global One Ford strategy and flagship of the company's new range of global C-segment products. The German native, who joined Ford in 2000, will become CEO of Bavaria Yachtbau GmbH, effective Aug.

Ferrari apologises for 458 burning rubber on Great Wall of China (video)

Ferrari 458 'damaging' the Great Wall of China Ferrari hired a section of the Great Wall of China for a publicity event, but an employee damaged the Great Wall by burning rubber in a 458 Italia. China is a very big deal for Ferrari, as evidenced not only by rising sales but by the special editions Ferrari sells in to the burgeoning luxury car market in China, like the 458 Italia China Special Edition. Sot it’s no surprise that Ferrari wanted to hire out a section of the Great Wall from local authorities in China for a bit of an ‘event’.

BMW ActiveHybrid 7 at 2009 Frankfurt motor show

By Ben Pulman First Official Pictures 13 August 2009 14:30 This is BMW’s new ActiveHybrid 7, a hybrid limo which will compete with the Mercedes S400 Hybrid and Lexus LS600h as the car of choice for the rich but eco-conscious businessman. Not quite. Both car use the same 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8, but the hybrid X6 is more performance biased.