2007 Mini Cooper S Fuse Box on 2040-parts.com

General Motors names Mary Barra to head global product development

General Motors named Mary Barra head of global product development on Thursday, succeeding Tom Stephens, who was named global chief technology officer of the automaker on Wednesday. An engineer, Barra, 49, is the first woman to hold the top product development job at GM. Since 2009 she has served as vice president of global human resources for GM--a key post as the automaker restructured and emerged from bankruptcy protection.

Icon founder Jonathan Ward on his latest 'Derelicts' project [w/video]

Bespoke car restoration company, Icon, along with its founder and lead designer, Jonathan Ward, are the subject of eGarages's latest short film, Derelict. The documentary focuses on its namesake, a 1952 Chevy Coupe, built as part of Icon's ‘Derelict' project. The car is updated with modern mechanicals but with an aesthetic that bears the scars of its 60 years.

2012 BMW 3-series: The new features that matter

Those who covet the BMW 3-series probably don't need a lot of reason to buy a new one--other than that there's a fresh model for 2012. But after a splashy reveal on Friday in Munich, Bimmerphiles and mainstream consumers alike have reason to consider the 2012 BMW 3-series for both practical and enthusiast-oriented pursuits. Here's why: The sixth-generation BMW 3-series is fitted with a host of the latest technologies both underhood and underskin, which make the 3-series more relevant for the times yet true to its heritage.