Chief engineer of Ford Focus quits to lead German yacht builder

Jens Ludmann, chief program engineer for Ford Motor Co.'s new Focus, is quitting the automaker to head a German-based maker of luxury yachts. Ludmann led a team at Ford's European base in Merkenich, near Cologne, Germany, that developed the Focus, the first car from CEO Alan Mulally's global One Ford strategy and flagship of the company's new range of global C-segment products. The German native, who joined Ford in 2000, will become CEO of Bavaria Yachtbau GmbH, effective Aug.

Peugeot BB1 concept

Peugeot BB1 concept was one of the more interesting surprises of the 2009 Frankfurt motor show. Capable of accommodating four people in a package only 2.5 meters long, the all-electric BB1 concept seeks to reinvent the car in every respect: architecture, style, interior design, driveability and connectivity, bringing the environment very much to the fore. Conveying values of freedom and optimism, and even 'altruism', the BB1 concept offers the promise of a new driving experience, wrapped in an altogether fresh and intriguing package.

First Fiat 500s will have stick shifts

The 2012 Fiat 500 , heading to U.S. dealerships later than first expected, is enduring another hiccup: The first units arriving in dealerships in late February will have manual transmissions, the company said. Moreover, only about 20 percent of the 130 Fiat dealerships will be open when those first cars arrive, said Laura Soave, head of the Fiat brand in North America, at the Detroit auto show last week.