Centric Parts 135.44706 Rear Wheel Cylinder on 2040-parts.com

Michael Mauer appointed head of design at Porsche

Porsche AG has anounced the appointment of Michael Mauer to take over as chief designer from Harm Lagaay, who will retire on July 1 after 15 years in the post. Michael Mauer, 41, studied automobile design at Pforzheim University, and started his career at Mercedes-Benz. In 1989, he was appointed design project leader for the Mercedes V Class models, and was in charge of design work for the first SLK model generation.

Renault at the Paris motor show 2008

By Ben Oliver Motor Shows 02 October 2008 12:24 Renault put in the strong showing you'd expect from France's biggest car maker on its home turf, with six new cars or concepts led by two versions of the new Megane. There's also the production versions of the Laguna Coupe and the shortened, three-door Kangoo Be Bop, and two new concepts in the Ondelios grand tourer and the Z.E. electric car.

Driven: Jaguar XF

It is possibly harder to design a Jaguar than any other premium car brand. The essence of the firm's highly regarded design language is over 40 years old with the shadow of the 1961 E-type and 1968 XJ6 - and even the 1955 Mk1/1959 Mk2 - looming large. For decades the design group has taken cues from these old designs and reinterpreted them to appease the traditionalist Jaguar customer, but in doing so they have reinforced the 'old-man' image of Jaguar and pushed many customers to Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz.