Ford Tremec Tko 500 26 Spline on 2040-parts.com

Ford completes $14 million overhaul at its German design studio

Ford has opened a $14.5 million expansion of its design studios at Merkenich-Cologne in Germany. Global design work for Ford's subcompact and compact vehicles, including the Fiesta and the Focus, is done at the center, which is close to the automaker's Cologne factory where the Fiesta is built. The expansion is the largest since the studios were constructed in 1968 and increases the size by about 32,300 square feet to about 172,000 square feet.

Seat at the Paris motor show 2008

By Ben Whitworth Motor Shows 02 October 2008 15:12 Seat wheeled out its feisty new Ibiza Cupra – all 180bhp of it – and followed it up by its new old A4-based Exeo, and topped off its show with its ultra-clean Ibiza Ecomotive.  Penned by ex-Lamborghini designer Luc Donkerwolcke, the Cupra is the first Ibiza that we’ve really warmed to. On its chunky 17-inch alloys, aggressive body kit and go-faster details, it looks far closer to the Bocanegra concept we saw in Geneva at the start of the year. And that’s a good thing.

Who's Where: GM's new Asian and European design studio appointments

New additions have been made to the design management teams at General Motors, both in Asia and in Europe. Effective today (August 1), Friedhelm Engler begins his new role as Director of Design for the Pan Asian Technical Automotive Center (PATAC), based in Shanghai, China.  He is responsible for all design related activities in the joint venture between General Motors and the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. Group (SAIC).