Briggs & Stratton 206 Crate Engines 124332-8201 on 2040-parts.com

Exclusive: Laurens van den Acker to replace Patrick le Quément at Renault

The wheels of change are continuing to turn within the automotive design industry, with yet another new appointment being made at the director level. According to industry insiders, Laurens van den Acker is set become the new Design Director at Renault when Patrick le Quément retires later this year. One of the most pre-eminent car designers in the world, Patrick le Quément began his design career at Simca, worked at Ford for 17 years and did a brief stint at Volkswagen before taking the top design job at Renault.

Tanner Foust joins Cobb Tuning for Foust Edition Ford Focus ST

Professional wheelman Tanner Foust is teaming up with Cobb Tuning to create the Tanner Foust Edition Ford Focus ST. The car will go on sale later this year. Loosely based on the concept unveiled at the SEMA show in November, the car will be upgraded with a custom ECU calibration -- by Cobb, of course -- and an intercooler, intake, exhaust and suspension components.

Vauxhall Lifetime Warranty on all new cars (well, for 100k miles)

All new Vauxhalls now get the Vauxhall Lifetime Warranty It was going to happen sooner or later; long-established car makers biting the bullet on warranties to counter the threat form the Koreans with their huge warranties and bargain prices. And it’s Vauxhall that’s jumped in to the fray, offering a lifetime warranty on all new cars with immediate effect. Of course, that’s a ‘Lifetime Warranty’ in what has become the modern, disingenuous fashion.