BMW USED CARS

As any Midwest farmer could tell you, knee high by the Fourth of July was the handy measurement for a healthy corn crop. But for backers of corn-based ethanol, those stalks could grow to the moon by Mothers Day and it still wouldnt be enough. Face it, corn-based ethanol is a

Mitsubishi Motor Corp. will introduce a small electric car to sell at its U.S. dealerships.

The model, a Japan-built ultra-compact with a 330-volt lithium-ion battery, is currently being road-tested in Oregon. Mitsubishi plans to begin marketing the car in Japan in July, and to introduce the car in Europe in 2010.

The U.S

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. 1.

Van den Acker, a Dutch native, is an experienced designer who had led Mazd