Publisher KC Crain promoted to vice president/group publisher

AutoWeek publisher KC Crain, 30, has been named vice president/group publisher at Crain Communications Inc. with responsibility for Plastics News, Rubber & Plastics News, Tire Business and Waste & Recycling News, based in Akron, Ohio. He will also supervise the European-based titles of European Plastics News, European Rubber Journal, Plastics and Rubber Weekly and Urethanes Technology International.

GM returns to Super Bowl, new ads upcoming for Camaro, Caddy

If there's one thing Joel Ewanick has made clear since joining General Motors Co. three months ago, it's that he doesn't let grass grow under his feet. And the company's vice president of marketing isn't slowing down anytime soon: In a wide-ranging interview with Advertising Age, an affiliate of AutoWeek, Ewanick let drop that the automaker will return to the Super Bowl in 2011; that an ad campaign will break next month for the Chevy Camaro; and that there's a new tagline coming for Cadillac, "The new standard for the world." "We have so many projects in the works right now," he said.

Where is Nissan and Infiniti design headed? Just look at the lamps

For a glimpse at future styling trends from Nissan Motor Co., look to the headlamps on the Nissan Leaf electric car and the sculpted rear of the Infiniti M. Front and rear lamps raised from the body surface and pronounced spoilers are two tricks Nissan will use more often to improve the aerodynamics and handling of vehicles--in addition to giving them a futuristic flair, global design chief Shiro Nakamura says. The goal: Win young drivers and bring sales of models such as the Nissan Altima in line with Japanese rivals "The important thing is the front end and the rear end," Nakamura said during an April 12 interview at the company's main design studio south of Tokyo.