Raymarine Array 4' on 2040-parts.com

Aston Martin make Nissan’s Andy Palmer their new CEO

Andy Palmer (pictured) is taking the reins at Aston Martin Lagonda Aston Martin has effectively been without a boss since Ulrich Bez stepped down from the role last year, but that changes with the announcement that Andrew Palmer – until now, Chief Planning Officer of Nissan – is to step in to the role. There’s no specific start date for Andy Palmer at Aston, but Nissan has announced that Philippe Klein will take up Palmer’s role at Nissan on 15 September, so it shouldn’t be long before Palmer holds the reins at Aston Martin. But what exactly has persuaded Andy Palmer to jump from a big corporate behemoth like Nissan to a struggling luxury car maker with owners who either want to tug the operating strings (the Kuwaitis) or are looking for a quick return (Investindustrial)?

The hidden cost of fuel-efficient cars

Yesterday’s drive of the new Fiesta ECOnetic got me thinking. It’s astonishing what car makers can get out of a car these days. The new ECOnetic manages a combined figure of 76mpg.

BMW Concept 1-series tii and M3 saloon (2007): first official pictures

By Steve Moody First Official Pictures 24 October 2007 02:47 Two World Debuts at Tokyo: Are BMW turning Japanese? With the vast proliferation of BMW models, there just aren’t enough motor shows to go round, so Tokyo was treated to the unusual sight of two world debuts from the Germans: the outwardly sensible (but mental behind its closed four doors) M3 and the mental-in-every-way Concept 1 Series tii. The Concept 1 Series tii, BMW executives were extremely keen to point out, is a design study intended to highlight the new coupe’s links to great road and racing BMWs of the past, such as the 2002 tii of the 60s and 70s and the brilliant 3.0 CSL of the 70s.