Integrated Module For 745i Bmw on 2040-parts.com

June sales get a pick-me-up from pickups

If there's a bright spot in June's tepid light-vehicle sales, it came from an unlikely segment. After slumping for several years as the economy tanked and gas prices spiked, pickup demand is rising faster than the overall sales gains of most automakers--serving as a pillar once again during the industry's fledgling recovery. And most of the buyers returning to showrooms are pickup enthusiasts, automakers say.

Exclusive: Laurens van den Acker to replace Patrick le Quément at Renault

The wheels of change are continuing to turn within the automotive design industry, with yet another new appointment being made at the director level. According to industry insiders, Laurens van den Acker is set become the new Design Director at Renault when Patrick le Quément retires later this year. One of the most pre-eminent car designers in the world, Patrick le Quément began his design career at Simca, worked at Ford for 17 years and did a brief stint at Volkswagen before taking the top design job at Renault.

Bahrain Grand Prix: Vettel takes pole

Bahrain Grand Prix 2012 - Vettel on pole Sebastian Vettel puts his Red Bull on pole position for tomorrow’s F1 Grand Prix in Bahrain – the first Red Bull poll of 2012. After two years of Red Bull dominance in F1 – in particular by world champion Sebastian Vettel – the 2012 F1 season has been a bit of a shambles so far for the Red Bulls – certainly by their usual standards. But it looks like we may be back to business as normal in Bahrain with a pole position for Red Bull by Sebastian Vettel with team mate Mark Webber right behind him on the grid in third place.