U.s. Old Vehicle Or Machine Piston Rings, 4 1/2; For One Piston. Item: 3912 on 2040-parts.com

Ford announces new Silicon Valley research laboratory

Ford has announced plans to open a new R&D center in California's Silicon Valley with a view to creating a hub for collaborative technology projects. With neighbors including Google, Microsoft, facebook, Apple and Stanford University, it's certainly setting up shop in the right part of town. Its location also connects Ford's Advanced Design Studio in Irvine, CA and Ford employees working with connectivity platform partner Microsoft Corp.

Hyundai loses top U.S. designer

Hyundai's North American design chief, Joel Piaskowski, left the automaker on Dec. 31. Piaskowski is credited as the main designer for the Hyundai Genesis sedan and coupe.

KIA WINS AUTO EXPRESS USED CAR SCHEME OF THE YEAR

KIA’S Approved Used Car Scheme has been recognised as the best in the industry having been crowned Used Car Scheme of the Year in the Auto Express Used Car Awards 2011. The magazine praised Kia for going above and beyond normal approved used programmes with a number of customer benefits including its industry-leading seven year warranty that is fully transferable to subsequent owners.  Approved Used Kias don’t just get the balance of their manufacturer warranty.  Instead, the warranty is topped back up to the full seven years meaning that an Approved Used Kia gets the same warranty as a brand new Kia. Commenting on the award, John Hargreaves, Head of Vehicle Remarketing, Kia Motors said: “When we launched our Approved Used Car Scheme we set out to ensure it really did represent the best possible deal for customers so we’re obviously very proud that this been recognised by Auto Express with this award.