300 Mercury Midsection on 2040-parts.com

Exclusive: Anthony Lo to become VP of Exterior Design at Renault

In another exclusive, Car Design News has obtained information regarding Anthony Lo's most recent career move. According to our industry contacts, Lo resigned as Director of Advanced Design at General Motors Europe, handing in his papers yesterday morning. He is now set to become Vice President of Exterior Design at Renault, working under recently appointed Design Director Laurens van den Acker.

Nissan 2013 Altima

The 2013 Nissan Altima has made its world debut at the New York International Auto Show. The vehicle's stance is wide and despite retaining the same wheelbase as the last Altima model, it has increased its front and rear tracks by 1.4-inches and deepened the fenders by 0.8-inches each side. A new grille design and seamless bumper are also new additions.

MINI Countryman to be built in India

MINI sells worldwide – even in the US – and, despite claims it was a step too far for the brand, the MINI Countryman has been a big hit for MINI, offering as it does most of MINI’s charm but in a bigger, more family friendly package and with the option of All4 4WD for a degree of off-road ability (well, certainly the ability to treat boot sale car parks with disdain). Now, for the first time, BMW is to build the MINI outside Europe with a new MINi assembly facility coming on stream in Chennai, India, where BMW already makes 3 and 5 Series models as well as the X1 and X3. The plan is part of BMW’s plan of ‘Production follows the market’ where BMW aim to make their cars where they’re sold, so with the MINI brand showing strong growth in India since its launch it makes sense to build them there.