Top-Selling Fiesta Earns Best Used Car Award From CAP

THE FORD Fiesta, Britain’s best-selling car, has been declared Used Car of the Year 2012 by car valuation experts CAP. Top of CAP’s criteria when choosing its Used Car of the Year were affordability, practicality, reputation and popularity in the used car market. Commenting on its decision, Mark Norman, of CAP, said: “It is always tempting for the motoring media and other industry observers to take ‘the petrol head’ approach when giving awards to cars which excite them, but the CAP Used Car of the Year Award recognises the contribution a car makes to both consumers and dealers.” Ford’s Fiesta continues to top the UK sales charts and the range is being further strengthened by the arrival of new models featuring class-leading fuel economy from six powertrains with CO2 emissions under 100g/km, as well as innovative new driver assistance and safety features.

Nissan opens new North American design studio

Nissan Design America Inc. has opened a new design studio in Farmington Hills, Michigan, on the grounds of Nissan Technical Center North America. The $14 million investment represents an expansion of Nissan's design capabilities in Farmington Hills as well as a shift in design capabilities.

Chevrolet sprinkles in some ZR1 for the Corvette Z06 Carbon Limited Edition

With the ZR1 grabbing all the headlines of late, it's easy to forget about the other pumped-up performance thoroughbred in the Corvette stable--the Z06. However, that's about to change, because Chevrolet is taking some of the ZR1 goodies and transplanting them over onto the Z06 for the 2011 model year, such as the Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes and magnetic select ride control system. The features will be standard on a new 2011 Corvette Z06 Carbon Limited Edition, which Chevy is using to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Corvette's first 24 Hours of LeMans race.