Mercury Mariner Outboard Crankshaft V-6 on 2040-parts.com

GM taps Opel designs for future Buicks in the U.S.

Even as General Motors explores the sale of Opel, it will tap its European unit as a source for future Buick sedans. For the past two years, GM has shared Opel vehicles and design with Saturn. Sources familiar with GM's plans say those products now will go to Buick.

Ford Focus goes SEMA mad

A total of seven Ford Focus at the 2011 SEMA Show There’s nothing American petrolheads (perhaps we should say gearheads) like more than tarting up a car. Which explains why the relatively sensible Ford Focus is being pimped to within an inch of its life for this year’s SEMA show. The SEMA Motor Show is a trade-only gathering – despite which it gets around 50k visitors – which the organisers call the “premier automotive specialty products trade event – in the world.” It attracts trade visitors from across the globe to see parts, tools and components and the ‘SEMA’ special cars brought along by car makers and car modifiers.

Changes at Nissan Design

Nissan yesterday announced a series of changes within its higher-level design structure - with VPs responsible for design in Europe and America effectively swapping roles. Alfonso Albaisa, who became VP of Design at Nissan Design Europe's London-based studio in 2007, will be going back to Nissan Design America's San Diego studio as VP of Design. It marks a return to the West Coast for Albaisa, who originally joined Nissan in 1988.