EyesOn design awards 2012 winners announced at NAIAS

The Detroit-based EyesOn Design competition winners have just been announced at their traditional time, late on the second press day of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The jury, which this year included Ralph Giles (Chrysler), Derek Jenkins (Mazda), Lorenzo Ramaciotti (Fiat/Chrysler), Peter Schreyer (Kia) and Franz Von Holzhausen (Tesla) had a much greater array of products to choose from than in recent years; this is a somewhat rejuvenated Detroit auto show. From the cars on display at the show, the judges shortlisted the Ford Fusion, BMW 3-Series and Cadillac ATS for the best production car award.

Whos Where: Pierre Authier to become Vice President of Design for Opel/Vauxhall

 Pierre Authier is thought to become Vice President of Design for Opel/Vauxhall, leaving his current role as Peugeot Design Director, according to a source from within the PSA design department. The position has been up for grabs since the shock dismissal of Dave Lyon just days before he took up the position in Rüsselsheim, Germany last month. Authier has been at Peugeot since the start of his career in 1998, first working on the 307 model and most recently responsible for the well-received 208 supermini.

Fiat Abarth 695 Maserati Edition joins Mille Miglia

Fiat is taking its Abarth 695 Maserati Edition, which we first saw in Geneva, to the famous Mille Miglia 1,000-mile race. The company is only producing 499 examples of the special edition. It will be displayed at Piazza della Loggia in Brescia, Italy, in conjunction with the race.