Kawasaki 21163-1199 Starter-electric on 2040-parts.com

Ford completes $14 million overhaul at its German design studio

Ford has opened a $14.5 million expansion of its design studios at Merkenich-Cologne in Germany. Global design work for Ford's subcompact and compact vehicles, including the Fiesta and the Focus, is done at the center, which is close to the automaker's Cologne factory where the Fiesta is built. The expansion is the largest since the studios were constructed in 1968 and increases the size by about 32,300 square feet to about 172,000 square feet.

GM slashes production, 13 plants to get extended shutdowns

General Motors, battling a 49 percent decline in U.S. sales through March, plans extended shutdowns at most of its U.S. plants this summer.

Meet the new BMW 2-series

Thanks to some leaky websites, we can bring you the all-new BMW 2-series Coupe a little earlier than we expected. The new car will be shown first at the Detroit auto show in January and will arrive in U.S. dealerships next spring as the 228i and M235i.