Simpson 12" Racing Black Nomex Racing Parachute Packs 42088 on 2040-parts.com

General Motors' R&D chief Larry Burns, PR boss Steve Harris set to retire

General Motors, following through with plans to shake up management after exiting bankruptcy, said r&d chief Larry Burns and public relations boss Steve Harris will retire. Burns, 58, will be replaced by Alan Taub. Harris, who came out of retirement more than three years ago, will yield his job to Chris Preuss, 43, vice president in charge of General Motors Europe communications.

Ford's NA Design Director aims to shorten product lifecycles

Peter Horbury, Ford Motor Company North America Design Director, has told Automotive News he intends to shorten product lifecycles at the ailing company from an average five years to three years starting this decade. "We feel there is no value in minor changes but a huge value in major changes," Horbury told the industry weekly. Ford needs to ensure that buyers continue visiting showrooms as the giant automaker struggles to retain market share.

First Sight: Twin’Z: Renault x Ross Lovegrove

Among the many car brand-related unveils within Milan Design Week, Renault was the only marque to actually launch a fully-fledged concept car. Car Design News spoke exclusively to its technical project manager Minh Au Truong and design superstar collaborator Ross Lovegrove to find out more about this much-hyped vehicle. When the news leaked that Renault would be teaming up with product design royalty Ross Lovegrove on a concept car to be revealed at Milan Design Week, to say this reviewer and the staff at Car Design News HQ were "a bit excited" would probably be an understatement.