2016 Ford F150 8' Take Off Pickup Bed on 2040-parts.com

Why Ford’s Euro design is changing: Joel Piaskowski replaces Martin Smith

By Tim Pollard Motor Industry 28 May 2014 14:30 Ford today confirmed that it is shaking up its European design team, as it appoints Joel Piaskowski to replace the retiring Martin Smith. Smith, 64, has led Ford of Europe’s design team for a decade and is the father of the brand’s edgy ‘kinetic design’, but will step down on 1 July 2014, it was announced this afternoon. Before he retires fully at the end of the year Smith will work with the Blue Oval’s vice president of design, Moray Callum, on a global project looking at the future of Ford design.

BMW 0 Series revealed? +video

Is this the BMW 0 Series? If BMW are going to go further downmarket in their quest for more sales – which we know they are with their plans for front wheel drive BMWs – then short of a sub-brand marque (entirely possible some will wear the Isetta or i-setta badge) then the only number we have to play with is a big, fat 0. It seems daft to give a BMW a leading 0 and its own series, but it certainly looks to be under consideration.

Volkswagen Group takes over BlackBerry's European R&D center

The Volkswagen Group has taken over BlackBerry's European research and development center in Bochum, Germany. The center employs around 200 people who will transfer to the newly founded VW Group subsidiary, Volkswagen Infotainment GmbH. BlackBerry is in the midst of a global restructure, as it bids to move away from making smartphones and switch its business to software development.