Vintage Trico Ford Windshield Motor / Motors on 2040-parts.com

Mini names BMW's Warming to succeed Hildebrand as design chief

Mini has named Anders Warming to succeed Gert Hildebrand as head of design by the end of the month. Hildebrand will leave the BMW AG subsidiary on Dec. 31, ending a 10-year run that saw him create a new look and feel for the Mini brand following its relaunch under BMW, the company said in a statement without providing details on the designer's future plans.

Citroen DS3 DStyle Red & DSport Red special editions

Citroen has launched a pair of special edition DS3s – the DS3 DStyle Red & DSport Red – to give New Year sales a bit of a fillip. Price from £15,655. The Citroen DS3 Red Edition comes in two flavours - DS3 DStyle Red and DS3 DSport Red – based on the existing DS3 DSport and DS3 DStyle with the requisite added goodies and stand-out paint job – either Polar white or Nera Black (with Perla Nera Black pearlescent a £480 option)  – with an exclusive ‘Red Touch’ interior and exterior pack which includes red roof and door mirrors, red grill, red dashboard and red door handles.

Japan automakers extend shutdowns as quake impact widens

Japan's seven big automakers are extending nationwide production shutdowns amid growing concern about supply chain interruptions, power shortages and export difficulties following the massive earthquake and tsunami that hammered northern Japan, killing thousands. Toyota Motor Corp., one of the few automakers with a major manufacturing presence in the quake zone, suspended all manufacturing--at both assembly and parts plants--on Monday and extended the shutdown through at least Wednesday as an added precaution. The company will lose output of roughly 40,000 vehicles over the three-day period, spokesman Dion Corbett said.