Nissan Elgrand 1998 Exhaust Center Muffler [4122300] on 2040-parts.com

Ex Ford, Mazda designer to head styling at Renault

Former Ford Motor and Mazda designer Laurens van den Acker will succeed Patrick le Quement as head of design at French automaker Renault. Van den Acker, 43, quit as head of design at Mazda earlier this month. He will join Renault on May 15 and assume le Quement's full responsibilities starting on Nov.

Hyundai ix35 launches at Frankfurt

Th Hyundai ix35 at the Frankfurt Motor Show The exterior styling is Ford Kuga by way of VW Tiguan – but somehow more convincing. With the optional 18″ wheels it looks purposeful and aggressive, but even in stock form it looks great. Passenger comfort is well taken care of with a well thought-out cabin with lots of decent quality materials, and nice features like the panoramic roof, cooled glove-box and good connectivity.

Banks and Dallenbach ready for Pikes Peak with 1,400 hp

Not content to rest on his laurels after developing new diesel engines for military applications, Gale Banks and his company Banks Power will run a 1,400-hp, 1,301 lb-ft methanol-fueled vehicle up the now completely paved course at the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, which is scheduled to take place Aug. 8-12. Banks teamed up with Paul Dallenbach and Leonard Arnold of Dallenbach Racing for the occasion.