Infiniti Q45 02-05/ Nissan Xterra 05-10 Oxygen Sensor, Heated, Threaded-in Type, on 2040-parts.com

Aston Martin make Nissan’s Andy Palmer their new CEO

Andy Palmer (pictured) is taking the reins at Aston Martin Lagonda Aston Martin has effectively been without a boss since Ulrich Bez stepped down from the role last year, but that changes with the announcement that Andrew Palmer – until now, Chief Planning Officer of Nissan – is to step in to the role. There’s no specific start date for Andy Palmer at Aston, but Nissan has announced that Philippe Klein will take up Palmer’s role at Nissan on 15 September, so it shouldn’t be long before Palmer holds the reins at Aston Martin. But what exactly has persuaded Andy Palmer to jump from a big corporate behemoth like Nissan to a struggling luxury car maker with owners who either want to tug the operating strings (the Kuwaitis) or are looking for a quick return (Investindustrial)?

This year's Pilkington Glass Awards winners announced at RCA grad show

Last week's Royal College of Art graduation exhibition (full report coming soon) also played host to the 27th annual Pilkington Vehicle Design Awards, with four students acknowledged by the glass making company. The Best Use of Glazing award was won by Jannis Carius' Bentley project, while Alexander Ibbett picked up prize for Best Design Interpretation with his 'downloadable' car. Meanwhile Alexander Brink and Nick Dunderdale were commended in the design interpretation category.

Electric car sales DOWN 20% in 2012 – time to scrap subsidies for EVs?

The SMMT are reporting that sales of electric cars in the UK have fallen by 20 per cent in the year to date (2012). Despite every green evangelist proclaiming that electric cars are the way to save the planet from imminent doom, UK car buyers obviously disagree. Despite a taxpayer bribe of £5000 to buy an over-priced electric car, car buyers have not exactly taken to the EV in droves.