Ford asks Web-savvy Americans to test the Fiesta

Ford Motor Co. wants to use social networking sites such as Facebook to generate buzz for its new Fiesta subcompact. But it will rely on company outsiders to get the early word out.

Mountune will upgrade your Focus ST, Fiesta ST

UK-based Ford tuner Mountune set up shop in the U.S. just a couple months ago, and is already offering upgrades to the Ford Focus ST and the Ford Fiesta ST. Mountune is Ford's official partner in Europe, and their experience goes back 30 years Mountune comes from a slightly different branch of Ford tuning that North American buyers are used to -- their specialty has been tuning Ford's smaller cars in Europe rather than muscle cars, and they've worked on everything from Escorts to Focuses (though perhaps not the Escorts and Focuses that we're used to).

Who's Where: Steve Mattin appointed Design Director at Avtovaz Lada

Steve Mattin will soon be relocating to his new home – Russia. The former Vice President and Design Director of Volvo Cars has been tapped by Avtovaz Lada to lead its design operations into the future, designing a new era of passenger vehicles for the 40-year-old brand. He will start his new role October 1 this year.