226 Super Hurricane Engine on 2040-parts.com

Peugeot 308 (2014) first pictures of Peugeot's new Focus-fighter

This is Peugeot's all-new family hatchback: the 308. Yep, that's right: Peugeot isn't rolling over to the '309' moniker, but don't be fooled: the new 308's design looks worlds apart from the off-the-pace outgoing car. Sticking with the same model names for all future cars will simplify the range for consumers, reckons Peugeot: it's a demonstration of the fightback to rebuild the brand's image (think Ford ditching the 'Escort' badge and sticking with 'Focus' instead). The new 308 is 140kg lighter than before, more economical and gets a totally rethought cabin.

Who's Where: Gorden Wagener to head Mercedes Advanced Design NA

German designer Gorden Wagener, 37, has been appointed President of Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design of North America. Beginning his new position on January 1. 2006, Wagener now focuses on products specifically for North America, including production and show cars as well as advanced projects.

News watch March 2012: today's auto industry news

Welcome to CAR Magazine's news aggregator as we round up the daily stories in the auto industry. Top tip: news summaries are added from the top hour-by-hour Friday 30 March 2012• Fiat is suffering from its decision to suspend new product innovation during the recession, argues ANE. It is losing ground on account of delays to its Punto range, which won't be replaced until 2014, and the ageing Bravo, which was launched in 2007 and has no successor in sight (Automotive News Europe)• Mercedes plans to build the new four-door coupe spun off the A- and B-class architecture at its new Hungarian factory (Automotive News Europe)• Opel denies rumours it may sell the Eisenach factory in east Germany where it builds the Corsa supermini (Automotive News Europe)• Mercedes is cutting the time it takes to build a car from 43 hours in 2008 to nearer 30 hours by 2015, according to production boss Wolfgang Bernhard.