Jeep Oem 55075205ab Lift Gate-support Cylinder Ball Stud on 2040-parts.com

Europe's Car of the Year 2011 shortlist announced

The 41 contenders for Europe's 2011 Car of the Year trophy have been whittled down to the final seven as the European CoTY shortlist is announced today. The winner will be voted for by 59 of Europe's most influential motoring journalists, including two CAR writers: editor Phil McNamara and European editor Georg Kacher. The 2010 winner - by just 10 points ahead of the Toyota iQ - was the Volkswagen Polo. Like the Eurovision Song Contest, Car of the Year has proved controversial in the past with accusations of block-voting and blind patriotism, yet the award remains one of the most prestigious in the motor industry.

Nissan Resonance Concept at Detroit. The next Murano SUV?

Nissan are teasing the Resonance Concept ahead of a debut at the Detroit Auto Show, which could be the next Murano SUV. The 2013 Detroit Auto show is looming, and the teases are starting to gather momentum as car makers seek to pique interest in their new and future models. This afternoon it’s the turn of Nissan to tease a new concept for Detroit – the Nissan Resonance Concept – although beyond the usual teaser image (above) there’s little to go on.

Hyundai makes Kia’s Peter Schreyer Hyundai design guru too

The newly appointed Kia President, Peter Schreyer, has now been made Hyundai President in charge of design too. Peter Schreyer’s success in making Kia a real design force led to him being appointed a Kia President at the end of 2012, handsome reward for the changes he’s wrought at Kia since leaving VW, turning Kia’s range of cars from stodgy to convincing in a few short years. But Kia is the junior partner in the Hyundai-Kia business, so Hyundai are obviously not totally thrilled that Kia managed to snaffle a designer who’s eye manages to so convincingly hit the Zeitgeist firmly on the head.