Jardine Universal Tall Backrest Br-0001-01 on 2040-parts.com

Who's Where: Martin Smith joins Ford Europe design team

Martin Smith has been appointed as Executive Director of Design at Ford Europe. Smith, a native of Sheffield, England, brings a wealth of design experience to Ford, having held positions at Porsche, Audi, and most recently as Director of Design for Opel/Vauxhall. In his new position, he will report to product development chief, Derrick Kuzak and to Ford's global group vice president for Design, J Mays.

Audi A6 Hybrid will arrive in mid 2012

Audi A6 Hybrid - arrives in the UK & Europe mid 2012 Audi released all the bumph on the 2011 A6 at the end of 2010, and we’d expected that they would deliver up the Audi A6 Hybrid by the end of this year at the latest. After all, car makers need to have an eco-halo car in each of their model ranges to be squeaky-green (or so they seem to think), and with all the hybrid gubbins for the A6 being nicked from the Q5 hybrid we thought it would a racing certainty that Audi would bring it to market this year. But it’s not happening.

Acura future products: Hybrids joining revamped lineup

Sales have begun to rebound for Acura, American Honda Motor Co.'s luxury brand, and a product renaissance in 2012--complete with a big entry into hybrid powertrains--could provide a further boost. Acura's two crossovers will be redesigned. And while the RL flagship won't have the rear-drive V8 version--those plans were killed in 2009--it will be significantly re-engineered.