Ford L8000 Ornament Asy on 2040-parts.com

Vauxhall / Opel can’t sell to the U.S.

Vauxhall Insignia VXR Sports Tourer won't go on sale in the US Probably the most significant thing so far is that Opel and Vauxhall will not be allowed to sell cars in the US, or indeed in to China. Which does cut out a lot of potential, if not exactly a lot of current, sales possibilities. It makes sense for GM to have made this clause in the sale agreement, but it will hurt the new Magna owned group in the long run.

Pruett Vineyard releases wine celebrating the Rolex 24 at Daytona anniversary

Race-car driver Scott Pruett is a master in the vineyard as well as at the track, and his Pruett Vineyard has released four new vintages this fall in time for the gift-giving seasons. The recent releases include a 2008 Pruett Napa Cab, a 2010 Pruett Grenache, a 2009 Lucky Lauren Red and a 2009 Pruett Estate Syrah--which tastes of purple fruits with traces of ginger and black pepper--that commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Rolex 24 at Daytona. Prices for the fall releases range from $29 to $50, and the wines can be found at www.pruettvineyard.com.

Hyundai makes Kia’s Peter Schreyer Hyundai design guru too

The newly appointed Kia President, Peter Schreyer, has now been made Hyundai President in charge of design too. Peter Schreyer’s success in making Kia a real design force led to him being appointed a Kia President at the end of 2012, handsome reward for the changes he’s wrought at Kia since leaving VW, turning Kia’s range of cars from stodgy to convincing in a few short years. But Kia is the junior partner in the Hyundai-Kia business, so Hyundai are obviously not totally thrilled that Kia managed to snaffle a designer who’s eye manages to so convincingly hit the Zeitgeist firmly on the head.