Telex Tel-66c Aviation Microphone (3284) on 2040-parts.com

Four-wheel, two-wheel BMWs battle it out in 'The Chase'

A just-released Internet video pits two Akrapovic-tuned BMWs against one another to see which is faster--the two-door BMW M3 coupe or the BMW 1000 RR motorcycle. Starting at opposite sides of an unnamed street circuit, the winner takes 15 laps to overcome its "slower" opponent. See who wins the battle of the Bavarians in the video.

Ford speeds up effort to cut vehicle platforms

Ford Motor Co. is accelerating its One Ford global product development plan by reducing its target for vehicle platforms worldwide to nine from 11 previously, and by moving the target date up to 2013 from 2014, global marketing chief Jim Farley said Wednesday. "It won't be 11 platforms" as earlier planned, Farley said at the Automotive News World Congress.

Who's Where: Mamoru Aoki and Koji Nagano promoted to Nissan executive design directors

Mamoru Aoki and Koji Nagano have been promoted to Nissan executive design directors, reporting to head of design Shiro Nakamura. Mamoru Aoki is now responsible for the design and development of all Nissan brand passenger and electric vehicles as well as design strategy and is based at the carmaker's Design Center in Atsugi, Japan. Koji Nagano – previously design director at Infiniti – now manages the design development of the new Datsun brand and Nissan brand light commercial vehicles.