Designers dress up Mini Cooper

Canadian design duo DSquared2 has released initial sketches of the Mini Cooper Countryman it outfitted for this year's Life Ball, which is on May 21 in Vienna, Austria. Each year, the small-car maker commissions designers to dress up a Mini to be auctioned off at the Life Ball, which donates proceeds to the fight against HIV and AIDS. The “Red Mudder,” as the car is called, is branded with a maple leaf on both doors and a DSquared2 logo on the front shield and wheels.

Ford to roll out Stop-Start in a big way

Ford are rolling out Stop Start in North America Stop-Start is a relatively simple way for car makers to grab more miles out of every gallon of fuel a car uses by simply turning off the engine when it’s not being used. And it’s a technology that is rapidly spreading from the hybrid sector in to more mainstream cars. And high end stuff too, with Porsche rolling it out on the Cayenne and Panamera.

Who's Where: Verena Kloos named President of DesignworksUSA

DesignworksUSA, the California-based international strategic design consultancy owned by BMW Group, has announced that Verena C. Kloos has been named President of DesignworksUSA. In this position, she will oversee the company's day-to-day operations and strategic direction.