Polaris Fusion Upper Shock Mount Plates on 2040-parts.com

2015 Aston Martin Vanquish, Vanquish Volante & Rapide S updated with new 8-speed ZF gearbox

The 2015 Aston Martin Vanquish (pictured) upgraded It really is astonishing how Aston Martin keep managing to upgrade their cars despite a platform and engine that are more than a decade old. But they do, and the tweaks for 2015 for the aston Martin Vanquish (and Vanquish Volante) as we ll as the 4-door Rapide S are all quite impressive. Most notably, Aston Martin finally ditch their ancient 6-speed auto ‘box in favour of a new 8-speed ZF auto shifter - Touchtronic III – which cleverly adds an extra pair of cogs without needing a new housing (and all the work that would entail), improves economy and boosts performance.

Ikuo Maeda to replace Laurens van den Acker as General Manager of Design at Mazda

Ikuo Maeda has been appointed General Manager of Mazda Motor Corporation's Design Division. He replaces Laurens van den Acker, who has decided to leave Mazda to pursue other interests. Following on from the successful tenure of van den Acker, Maeda will lead the Japanese automaker's global design team and be responsible for the overall design and styling of Mazda's global products.

Who's Where: Karim Habib joins Mercedes-Benz

Karim Habib, former Team Leader for Advanced Design at BMW, joined Mercedes-Benz earlier this month, becoming Head of Advanced Design at the German automaker's Stuttgart studio. Habib will work under newly appointed Mercedes-Benz Head of Design, Gorden Wagener. Habib, who celebrates his 38th birthday today, was born in Beirut, Lebanon and attended elementary school in Iran, France and Greece before moving to Montreal, Canada in 1982.