Porsche 914 Door Latches on 2040-parts.com

Ford agrees to sell Aston Martin

Ford Motor Company announced this week it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell Aston Martin, its prestigious UK sports car business. The new owner of Aston Martin is a consortium comprised of: David Richards, founder and chairman of Prodrive, a world-leading motorsport and automotive technology company; John Sinders, an avid Aston Martin collector and a backer of Aston Martin Racing; and Investment Dar and Adeem Investment Co, international investment companies headquartered in Kuwait. The sale is expected to close during the second quarter and the transaction values Aston Martin at GBP 479 million ($925 million). As part of the transaction, Ford will retain a GBP 40 million ($77 million) investment in Aston Martin.

Renault Scenic XMOD

In a move that marks the huge shift in interest from MPVs and minivans to SUVs, the definitive ‘mini-MPV' Renault Scenic has been rehashed and reborn as a pseudo off-roader. The addition of unpainted bumpers and lower body cladding, along with some metallic-effect details is a clear attempt to stem the flood of buyers choosing cars such as the Nissan Qashquai. It may be little more than an Allroad-style makeover rather than a new format but it speaks volumes in terms of how the family car market has shifted and not only in Europe.

Book Review: Car Guys vs Bean Counters

Designers are the surprise heroes of a new book by former General Motors vice chairman Robert Lutz, called Car Guys vs. Bean Counters: The Battle for the Soul of American Business. "The real car guys are in design," Lutz told me during his recent book tour.