Mazda Festiva 1995 Right Clearance Lamp [0111000] on 2040-parts.com

Concours d'Elegance of America selects classes for 2012 event

The Concours d'Elegance of America has announced classes for its 2012 event in Plymouth, Mich., where more than 300 cars are expected to be on display. July is several months away, but here are some highlights you can look forward to through the impending winter: -- American classics from 1928 to 1934: While the Great Depression crippled automotive sales, it also motivated designers to work even harder to attract buyers' attention. Some beautifully crafted custom coaches sprung from this period.

Ford, Nissan, GM, Chrysler post double-digit April sales gains

UPDATED: Strong demand for large pickups and new models propelled Ford Motor Co., Nissan Motor Co., General Motors and Chrysler Group to double-digit sales gains in April, signaling the auto industry's recovery remains solid. The seasonally adjusted annualized sales rate for April was tracking at 15.1 million based on results from automakers representing 55 percent of the U.S. market, J.P.

Mazda hires VW alum Derek Jenkins to head U.S. design staff

Former Volkswagen designer Derek Jenkins has been hired to be the design chief for Mazda in America. Jenkins, 39, fills a position vacated last summer by Franz von Holzhausen, who left to take the top design post at electric-vehicle maker Tesla Motors. Jenkins had been chief of design for the Volkswagen Group in North America, which he joined in 2000.