Furuno Rd-33 on 2040-parts.com

Why Ford’s Euro design is changing: Joel Piaskowski replaces Martin Smith

By Tim Pollard Motor Industry 28 May 2014 14:30 Ford today confirmed that it is shaking up its European design team, as it appoints Joel Piaskowski to replace the retiring Martin Smith. Smith, 64, has led Ford of Europe’s design team for a decade and is the father of the brand’s edgy ‘kinetic design’, but will step down on 1 July 2014, it was announced this afternoon. Before he retires fully at the end of the year Smith will work with the Blue Oval’s vice president of design, Moray Callum, on a global project looking at the future of Ford design.

Jaguar XE Roadster WILL get 3.0 litre diesel

This Jaguar XE is running a 3.0 litre diesel lump Earlier today we ran an update on the ongoing speculation on Jaguar’s small sports car, confirming that Jaguar will debut the Jaguar XE at Frankfurt in September. And now we can add to that by reporting that it WILL be getting the option of a 3.0 litre diesel lump when it goes on sale in 2012. We’ve speculated for some time that Jaguar will add the very good 3.0 litre TDV6 from the XJ and XF to the range of engines on the XK.

Lotus CEO Dany Bahar on the crisis at Lotus Cars

Lotus chief executive Dany Bahar has laid bare the business position at Lotus Cars since the takeover of parent company Proton by Malaysia's DRB-Hicom. Norfolk's sports car maker has been buffeted by rumours of financial crisis and looming collapse since development was frozen by the new owners (click here for our coverage of the crisis at Lotus. CAR scored an interview with Bahar at the Hethel headquarters yesterday afternoon. He was abroad at the time of last week's media maelstrom, when rumours and slurs flew around about the state of Lotus's finances.