Auto Meter 2605 Z-series; Mechanical Oil Pressure Gauge on 2040-parts.com

Q&A: David Townsend, GM global design director, user experience

GM's new design director of user experience, David Townsend, has only been in the job just over a month. But with a remit extending to the interface design of every vehicle in GM's global portfolio, his influence will soon be widespread. After graduating from Art Center with a degree in transportation design, Townsend interned for Toyota but soon moved to Motorola, where he developed wearable Bluetooth technology and designed the familiar headsets worn by coaches in the NFL.

KIA WINS AUTO EXPRESS USED CAR SCHEME OF THE YEAR

KIA’S Approved Used Car Scheme has been recognised as the best in the industry having been crowned Used Car Scheme of the Year in the Auto Express Used Car Awards 2011. The magazine praised Kia for going above and beyond normal approved used programmes with a number of customer benefits including its industry-leading seven year warranty that is fully transferable to subsequent owners.  Approved Used Kias don’t just get the balance of their manufacturer warranty.  Instead, the warranty is topped back up to the full seven years meaning that an Approved Used Kia gets the same warranty as a brand new Kia. Commenting on the award, John Hargreaves, Head of Vehicle Remarketing, Kia Motors said: “When we launched our Approved Used Car Scheme we set out to ensure it really did represent the best possible deal for customers so we’re obviously very proud that this been recognised by Auto Express with this award.

A schooling in Jaguar: a lifetime fan speaks

My Jaguar story starts in 1978. I started at secondary school which entailed a train journey each morning and then a five-minute walk. Almost every day on that walk I was passed by a beautiful Squadron Blue 4.2 XJ6 with a black vinyl roof, chrome plated wheels and a private registration number.