4oz. Auto Air Metallic Bronze 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.

Smart For-Us concept unveiled at 2012 Detroit show

Smart made a splash with its world debut at the 2012 Detroit auto show: its For-Us concept car provides a vision of the Smart as an American icon, a pick-up. The diminutive truck - just 3547mm long - is longer than a Fortwo, and is supposed to be based on the running gear of the next-gen Smart Forfour, aka the new Renault Twingo. So if the For-Us doesn't look so much like a Smart any more, from the front at least, that's why.

Audi TT Sportback concept – it’s a 5-door TT: Paris 2014

Audi TT Sportback concept – it’s a 5-door TT Audi has long been the master of the niche, so it’s no real surprise they’re looking for ways to ‘extend’ the Audi TT in to a series of new niche models. The latest take is this, the Audi TT Sportback concept, which has arrived at the Paris Motor Show as a big brother to the TT Coupe, with an extra pair of doors and an extra 290mm in length. Audi has also played with the look of the TT Sportback, with a new hexagonal grill, new headlights and a new bumper up front and the new tail lights and smaller back window give the TT Sportback an individual look (well, as individual as an Audi ever gets).